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Despite the importance of behaviours in promoting health and wellness, persuading people to adopt and sustain healthy behaviours remains a significant public health challenge. Considerable progress has been made in developing and testing theories about the personal, social, environmental and structural drivers of behaviours. However, theorizing about behaviours themselves has remained elusive, as evidenced by the absence of a widely accepted taxonomy of behaviours. By carefully examining the nature of behaviours, practitioners and researchers can identify the most effective ways to promote behavioural change. We propose attribute-centred theorizing as an approach for defining behaviours based on their relevant properties, which can then assist in developing a taxonomy of behaviours and theorizing about them. Behaviours differ because of their underlying properties; for example, some behaviours are addictive, others are publicly observable and others are expensive. Addictiveness, privacy and cost are therefore three (of the many) attributes relevant for theorizing about behaviours. We describe a framework for operationalizing attribute-centred theorizing, which includes generating behavioural attributes, verifying and testing those attributes, and constructing a behavioural matrix to inform campaigns or interventions. We illustrate this framework using the examples of Guinea-worm disease and cardiovascular diseases. The benefits of our approach include the ability to inform intervention development and the ability to generalize across different behaviours; however, more research on converting the behavioural matrix into actual policy is needed.Malgré l'importance des comportements dans la promotion de la santé et du bien-être, persuader les gens d'adopter et de conserver un mode de vie sain représente toujours un défi de santé publique non négligeable. Des progrès considérables ont été accomplis en ce qui concerne le développement et l'évaluation des théories sur les motivations personnelles, sociales, environnementales et structurelles exerçant une influence sur les comportements. Cependant, formuler des théories à ce propos demeure complexe, comme en atteste l'absence de taxinomie largement admise en la matière. En examinant attentivement la nature des comportements, les chercheurs et praticiens peuvent identifier les moyens les plus efficaces pour les faire évoluer. Nous proposons d'opter pour une théorisation axée sur les attributs afin de définir les comportements en fonction de leurs propriétés utiles, ce qui permettrait ensuite d'instaurer une taxinomie des comportements et d'énoncer les hypothèses qui en découlent. Les comportements varient en raison de leurs propriétés sous-jacentes; certains par exemple sont liés à une dépendance, d'autres sont clairement visibles et d'autres encore sont onéreux. La dépendance, l'intimité et le coût constituent donc trois (des nombreux) attributs utiles à l'élaboration d'hypothèses sur les comportements. Dans le présent document, nous traçons un cadre servant à concrétiser cette théorisation axée sur les attributs; il prévoit notamment de générer des attributs comportementaux, de vérifier et de tester ces attributs, et d'imaginer une matrice qui fournirait des orientations pour diverses campagnes ou interventions. Nous illustrons également ce cadre en prenant pour exemples la dracunculose et les maladies cardiovasculaires. Parmi les avantages de notre approche figurent la possibilité de guider le développement des interventions et celle d'intégrer différents comportements; néanmoins, une étude approfondie est nécessaire pour définir comment convertir la matrice comportementale en réelle politique.A pesar de la importancia de los comportamientos en la promoción de la salud y el bienestar, persuadir a las personas para que adopten y mantengan comportamientos saludables sigue siendo un importante reto para la salud pública. Se ha avanzado considerablemente en el desarrollo y la comprobación de teorías sobre los factores personales, sociales, ambientales y estructurales que impulsan los comportamientos. Sin embargo, teorizar sobre los comportamientos en sí sigue siendo difícil, como demuestra la ausencia de una taxonomía de comportamientos ampliamente aceptada. Al examinar cuidadosamente la naturaleza de los comportamientos, los profesionales e investigadores pueden identificar las formas más eficaces de promover el cambio de comportamiento. Proponemos una teoría centrada en los atributos como enfoque para definir los comportamientos en función de sus propiedades relevantes, lo que puede ayudar a desarrollar una taxonomía de comportamientos y a teorizar sobre ellos. Los comportamientos difieren por sus propiedades subyacentes; por ejemplo, algunos comportamientos son adictivos, otros son observables públicamente y otros son costosos. La adicción, la privacidad y el coste son, por tanto, tres (de los muchos) atributos relevantes para teorizar sobre los comportamientos. Describimos un marco para hacer operativa la teoría centrada en los atributos, que incluye la generación de atributos de comportamiento, la verificación y comprobación de dichos atributos y la construcción de una matriz de comportamiento para informar sobre campañas o intervenciones. Ilustramos este marco con los ejemplos de la enfermedad del gusano de Guinea y las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Las ventajas de nuestro enfoque son la capacidad de informar sobre el desarrollo de intervenciones y la capacidad de generalizar entre diferentes comportamientos; sin embargo, es necesario investigar más sobre la conversión de la matriz de comportamiento en una política real.على الرغم من أهمية السلوكيات في تعزيز الصحة والسلامة، فإن إقناع الناس بتبني السلوكيات الصحية والحفاظ عليها يظل من الصعوبات الكبيرة في مجال الصحة العامة. لقد تحقق تقدم كبير في وضع نظريات واختبارها بشأن الدوافع الشخصية والاجتماعية والبيئية والهيكلية للسلوكيات. إلا أن وضع النظريات التي تتناول السلوكيات نفسها ظل خادعًا كما يظهر في غياب تصنيف مقبول على نطاق واسع للسلوكيات. عند فحص طبيعة السلوكيات بعناية، يستطيع الممارسون والباحثون تحديد الطرق الأكثر فعالية لتعزيز التغير السلوكي. نطرح النظريات المرتكزة على السمات باعتبارها نهجًا لتعريف السلوكيات بناءً على خصائصها ذات الصلة، وهو الأمر الذي سيساعد بدوره على وضع تصنيف للسلوكيات والنظريات المتعلقة بها. تختلف السلوكيات بسبب خصائصها الكامنة، فبعض السلوكيات مثلاً إدمانية، وهناك سلوكيات أخرى ظاهرة علنًا وأخرى مكلفة. الإدمان والخصوصية والتكلفة إذن ثلاث من السمات (الكثيرة) ذات الصلة بوضع النظريات المتعلقة بالسلوكيات. نصف إطار عمل لتفعيل وضع النظريات المرتكزة على السمات، والذي يتضمن إنشاء سمات سلوكية، والتحقق من تلك السمات واختبارها، وإنشاء مصفوفة سلوكية لتوعية الحملات أو التدخلات. نوضح إطار العمل هذا باستخدام داء الدودة الغينية وأمراض القلب والأوعية الدموية كمثالين. تشمل الفوائد التي ينطوي عليها نهجنا القدرة على التوعية لوضع تدخل والقدرة على التعميم على السلوكيات المختلفة، إلا أن هناك حاجة لإجراء المزيد من الأبحاث على تحويل مصفوفة السلوكيات إلى سياسة فعلية.尽管行为对改善身心健康起到重要的作用，但说服人们采取和维持这些健康的行为仍然是一个巨大的公共卫生挑战。我们在开发和测试行为的个人、社会、环境和结构性驱动因素理论方面已经取得了重大进展。然而，仍然难以构建关于行为本身的理论，缺乏广泛接受的行为分类法就证明了这一点。通过细心研究行为的性质，从业者和研究者可以确认促进行为改变的最有效方法。我们提出以属性为中心构建理论，采取一种以行为的相关属性为基础的方法定义行为，它也有助于开发行为分类法并对其进行理论化。因为行为的潜在属性不同，行为也各不相同；例如，有些行为会让人上瘾，有些行为是可以公开观察到的，有些行为则是代价高昂的。因此，成瘾性、隐私和成本是与行为理论相关的（众多属性中的）三个属性。我们描述了一个可以实施的以属性为中心的理论框架，其中包括生成行为属性、验证和测试这些属性，以及构建行为矩阵来为活动或干预提供依据。我们通过麦地那龙线虫病和心血管疾病的例子来阐明这一框架。这些方法有利于为干预的开发提供依据和概括不同的行为；然而，我们仍需要更多的研究将行为矩阵转化为实际政策。.Несмотря на важность поведения в укреплении здоровья и хорошего самочувствия, убедить людей принять и поддерживать здоровый образ жизни остается серьезной проблемой для здоровья населения. Значительный прогресс был достигнут в разработке и проверке теорий о личностных, социальных, экологических и структурных факторах поведения. Однако теоретические представления о самом поведении остаются труднодостижимыми, о чем свидетельствует отсутствие общепринятой таксономии поведения. Тщательно изучив природу поведения, практикующие врачи и исследователи могут определить наиболее эффективные способы содействия изменению поведения. В качестве подхода к определению поведения на основе его релевантных свойств предлагается теоретизирование с акцентом на атрибутах, которое затем может помочь в разработке таксономии поведения и построении теорий о нем. Модели поведения различаются по своим базовым свойствам; например, некоторые модели поведения вызывают зависимость, другие соблюдаются на людях, третьи дороги в осуществлении. Таким образом, способность вызывать зависимость, конфиденциальность и стоимость являются тремя (из многих) атрибутами, имеющими значение для построения теорий в отношении поведения. В статье описана схема практического применения теоретизирования, ориентированного на атрибуты, которая включает создание поведенческих атрибутов, проверку и тестирование этих атрибутов, а также построение поведенческой матрицы для информирования кампаний или вмешательств. Эта схема проиллюстрирована на примере дракункулеза и сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний. Среди преимуществ предлагаемого подхода — возможность информационной поддержки при разработке мер вмешательства и способность обобщать различные модели поведения, однако необходимо провести дополнительные исследования по преобразованию поведенческой матрицы в фактическую политику.

One Health is a framework focusing on the dynamic intersections between humans, animals, and ecosystems regarding health systems and practices. As human decisions and actions are the locus of One Health challenges, it is critical to understand how people perceive and act on these connections. Fundamentally, the literature in this area is based in the natural and health sciences; further efforts are still necessary to fully realize the potential of bringing social research squarely into One Health. We suggest several areas of scholarship that could move this effort forward.

Breastfeeding is a health promoting social behavior but statistics suggest a persistent disparity of lower rates among African American mothers. The Theory of Normative Social Behavior (TNSB) explains when and how norms influence behaviors, but has produced inconsistent results with respect to proposed moderators group identity and injunctive norms (IN), limiting its predictive value in diverse cultural groups. Cultural norms are one of many influences on breastfeeding behaviors, yet little is known about their mechanisms of influence. The TNSB has not been tested in the breastfeeding context or within an exclusively African American cultural group. Given this knowledge gap, a survey of 528 African American mothers in the Washington, D.C. area was conducted to test the moderating effects of IN and subjective norms (SN) and social identity on the descriptive norms (DN) to intentions relationship as predicted by the TNSB. Structural equation modeling was used to show that when controlling for education and breastfeeding history, norms significantly predicted 26.4% of the variance in breastfeeding intentions. SN and DN interacted negatively to enhance breastfeeding intentions. Latent profile analysis using ethnic pride, collectivism, and religiosity scales detected four profiles of African American social identity. Social identity profile membership was a significant moderator on the DN to intentions pathway in the structural equation model. Profiles with the highest ethnic pride were significantly influenced by DN to intend to breastfeed. Implications from this study for public health intervention and communication messaging are discussed.

Recent work on voting behavior and political attitudes has established the relevance of anti-intellectual (Merkley, 2020; Motta, 2018), anti-science (Mede & Schafer, 2020; Rekker, 2021) and anti-expertise (Brewer, 2020; Oliver & Rahn, 2016) attitudes in politics. However, the increasing relevance of anti-expertise attitudes raises a paradox, as one of the most well-established claims of the persuasion literature concerns the influence of expert sources on attitudes (O’Keefe, 2016; Pornpitakpan, 2004). The current paper explores the influence of messages based on public and expert consensus, as well as the interaction of these messages with expressed mistrust of experts relative to the public. The issue we explore concerns environmental regulations relating to water, an issue on which partisan elites are divided, but one that has not played a highly salient role in recent political discourse. We find that mistrust of experts is negatively related to support for these regulations, as expected, but that, contrary to prior research, increases in mistrust of experts in fact enhanced the impact of the expert message. We discuss potential explanations for why this pattern of results differs from prior work.

This study investigates the influence of dynamic norms messages on behavioral intention via perceived future descriptive norms for two different pro-environmental behaviors and tests for the moderating role of group identity in the relationship between dynamic norms and behavior. The findings of an experiment show that perceived future descriptive norms mediate the effect of dynamic norms messages on behavioral intention. In addition, the pattern of dynamic norms message effects is dependent on group identity. When the reference group in a message is viewed as an in-group member and similar to oneself, dynamic norms messages are more influential than conventional low descriptive norms messages; on the other hand, when the reference group is perceived as an out-group and dissimilar to oneself, conventional low descriptive norms messages are more influential than dynamic norms messages. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

This study introduces the concept of value-expressive communication and examines its relationship with behavioral intent. Value-expressive communication is conceptualized as the verbal output of a value-expressive attitude. Value-expressive communication about exercise is examined in relationship to strength of religious faith, exercise attitudes, communication frequency, and intentions to exercise among a sample of self-identified Christians. The data indicate a significant interaction between value-expressive communication and communication frequency explains significant variance in exercise intentions. Interact to and exercise attitudes is significantly associated with intentions to exercise. Suggestions for using value-expressive communication in health communication research and practice are discussed.

Rapid diffusion of solutions to a changing climate is paramount if the US is to mitigate carbon emissions. A timely response depends on how people perceive and understand innovations such as new practices, programs, policies, and technologies that promise to reduce emissions. This article explores multisolving innovations in the context of interventions that can be targeted to community leaders and decision makers. We focus on examples led by policy staff; directors of municipal offices and departments of transportation, housing, sustainability, urban planning, and public health; and elected county and city officials where there may be mixed support for efforts to reduce carbon emissions, to show that some innovations can be accurately framed solely in terms of community health benefits. When communicating with stakeholders who are dismissive or skeptical of climate change, we suggest using messages that describe the benefits of mitigation innovations in terms of human health, rather than climate, to achieve broader acceptability.

Background Global efforts are needed to elucidate the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the underlying cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including seroprevalence, risk factors, and long-term sequelae, as well as immune responses after vaccination across populations and the social dimensions of prevention and treatment strategies. Methods In the United States, the National Cancer Institute in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, established the SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet) as the nation’s largest coordinated effort to study coronavirus disease 2019. The network comprises multidisciplinary researchers bridging gaps and fostering collaborations among immunologists, epidemiologists, virologists, clinicians and clinical laboratories, social and behavioral scientists, policymakers, data scientists, and community members. In total, 49 institutions form the SeroNet consortium to study individuals with cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, cardiovascular diseases, human immunodeficiency virus, transplant recipients, as well as otherwise healthy pregnant women, children, college students, and high-risk occupational workers (including healthcare workers and first responders). Results Several studies focus on underrepresented populations, including ethnic minorities and rural communities. To support integrative data analyses across SeroNet studies, efforts are underway to define common data elements for standardized serology measurements, cellular and molecular assays, self-reported data, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Conclusions In this paper, we discuss the overarching framework for SeroNet epidemiology studies, critical research questions under investigation, and data accessibility for the worldwide scientific community. Lessons learned will help inform preparedness and responsiveness to future emerging diseases.

N = 182 posters) derived from 25 obesity-prevention campaigns shows 13.2% included stigmatizing elements. These stigmatizing advertisements were found in almost half (44%) of the 25 obesity-prevent...

Negative perceptions and vulnerable feelings about sharks have been one of the greatest barriers to effective shark conservation efforts. This study used a self-report survey of young adults in a coastal state (N = 616) to examine how shark-related risk perceptions (severity and susceptibility) and sensation-seeking tendency influence cognitive vulnerability to sharks and its affective, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes. Results of a path analysis showed that perceived susceptibility was positively associated with cognitive vulnerability to sharks, which in turn was negatively related to behavioral intention to shark dive. Perceived severity was associated with higher levels of fear, less favorable attitudes toward shark diving, and had a negative indirect effect on behavioral intention through attitude. Sensation-seeking had both a direct and an indirect effect through attitude on behavioral intention to shark diving. Theoretical and practical implications of findings in human-wildlife interactions are described.

In the United States, federal and local governments have attempted to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by implementing a variety of policies such as stay-at-home orders and mask mandates. Perceptions can influence behaviors; therefore, it is important to understand how people perceive the stringency of COVID-19 policies, what factors shape perceived policy stringency, and whether and how policy perceptions impact the practice of prevention behaviors. With rolling-cross sectional survey data collected in the US from June to October 2020 and other external sources of data, the study examines the impact of objective risk of the pandemic, information seeking, and political ideology at the individual and the state levels on perceived policy stringency, and the impact of perceived policy stringency on prevention behaviors such as mask wearing and social distancing. The findings reveal that objective risk and political ideology are significantly associated with perceived policy stringency. The perceived policy stringency has negative associations with prevention behaviors. The findings provide important implications for the development process of compulsory public health policies during the pandemic.

Background: Nearly 75% of Black non-Hispanic babies born in 2016 ever breastfed. However, Black mothers still experience barriers to breastfeeding, perpetuating disparities in exclusivity and duration. Subjects and Methods: Using data collected from five focus groups with Black mothers (N = 30) in Washington, District of Columbia during summer 2019, we critically examine the influence of institutionalized and personally mediated racism on breastfeeding. We also explore the counter-narratives Black women use to resist oppression and deal with these barriers. Results: Themes surrounding institutionalized racism included historic exploitation, institutions pushing formula, and lack of economic and employment supports. Themes regarding how personally mediated racism manifested included health care interactions and shaming/stigma while feeding in public. At each level examined, themes of resistance were also identified. Themes of resistance to institutionalized racism were economic empowerment and institutions protecting breastfeeding. Themes of resistance to personally mediated biases were rejecting health provider bias and building community. Conclusions: There are opportunities for health providers and systems to break down barriers to breastfeeding for Black women. These include changes in clinical training and practice as well as clinicians leveraging their position and lending their voices in advocacy efforts.

This paper presents the results of two experiments designed to test a susceptibility threshold in the shark cage diving context, positing that persons who are high relative to low sensation-seekers...

Literature on motivation crowding of financial incentives points to a potential role of social norms, but this literature has not attempted to quantify that role. We present an interdisciplinary model from economics and communication science that measures the effects of financial incentives on social norms and their joint effects on behavior, including after incentives have ended. In a framed field experiment with Tibetan herders in Qinghai, China, we find that a temporary payment for participation in a patrol against illegal wildlife trapping reinforces a perceived injunctive norm that this conservation behavior meets with social approval. This norm remains heightened even after the payment has ended, continuing to positively influence the decision to participate in anti-trapping patrols in the experiment. This finding suggests that, under certain circumstances, a carefully framed incentive for conservation behavior can support injunctive norms in favor of conservation behavior.

The purpose of this study was to describe social norms and salient social identities related to breastfeeding intentions among African American mothers in Washington, D.C. Five focus groups were held with 30 mothers who gave birth to a child between 2016 and 2019. Two coders conducted pragmatic thematic analysis. This study demonstrated that women hold different identities relevant to making infant feeding decisions, with mother being primary and race/ethnicity, age, and relationship status factoring into how they define themselves. Mothers drew their perceptions of what is common and accepted from family, friends, the “Black community,” and what they perceived visually in their geographic area and heard from their health care providers. Mothers believed breastfeeding to be increasing in popularity and acceptability in African American communities in Washington, D.C., but not yet the most common or accepted mode of feeding, with some variability by socioeconomic status group. Implications for public health communication and social marketing are discussed.

Conceptions of what is typical (descriptive norms) and socially appropriate (injunctive norms) are constrained by culture. Based on interviews with Tibetan pastoralists in Western China, we examine social norms and behaviors associated with managing domesticated animals. We describe the ways that behavioral decisions are influenced by interpersonal communication and observation of norms, along with ecological, market, and policy forces. Explicit communication about norms occurs primarily under problematic conditions, in times of change or policy introduction. Findings reinforce the relevance of understanding the culturally bound dimensions of social norms and the need to ground theory and research on social influence in intercultural communication concepts.

ObjectivesTo design and test the psychometric properties of four context-specific norm-related scales around handwashing with soap after toilet use: (1) perceived handwashing descriptive norms (HWDN); (2) perceived handwashing injunctive norms (HWIN); (3) perceived handwashing behaviour publicness (HWP); and (4) perceived handwashing outcome expectations (HWOE).DesignScale items were developed based on previous work and pilot tested in an iterative process. Content experts and members of the study team assessed the face validity of the items. The psychometric properties of the scales were assessed in a cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted in communal housing compounds in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.ParticipantsA convenience sample of 201 adult residents (≥16 years old) from 60 housing compounds completed the final questionnaire.Outcome measureConfirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the goodness of fit of the global model. We assessed the internal consistency of each scale using Cronbach’s alpha (α) and the Spearman-Brown coefficient (ρ).ResultsThe results of the psychometric tests supported the construct validity of three of the four scales, with no factor identified for the HWOE (α=0.15). The HWDN and HWP scales were internally consistent with correlations of ρ=0.74 and ρ=0.63, respectively. The HWIN scale appeared reliable (α=0.83).ConclusionWe were able to design three reliable context-specific handwashing norm-related scales, specific to economically disadvantaged community settings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, but failed to construct a reliable scale to measure outcome expectations around handwashing. The social desirability of handwashing and the narrow content area of social norms constructs relating to handwashing present significant challenges when designing items to measure such constructs. Future studies attempting to measure handwashing norm-related constructs will need to take this into account when developing such scales, and take care to adapt their scales to their study context.

Interpersonal communication can influence the decisions people make about engaging in conservation behaviours. In-depth interviews with Tibetan pastoralists serve as the basis for examining interpe...

Nostalgia-evoking messages are used to promote consumer products, but their use for encouraging healthy behaviors is not well understood. This study examines the use of nostalgia as an emotional appeal to influence attitudes and reduce smoking behavior. The study hypothesized that exposure to a nostalgic public service announcement (PSA) will result in (a) more negative attitude toward smoking; and (b) increased intention to limit smoking, relative to a control. Participants exposed to the nostalgia-evoking PSA expressed more negative attitudes toward smoking and stronger intentions to limit smoking than did participants exposed to nonnostalgic messages. The findings suggest nostalgic appeals as a promising strategy for smoking prevention messages.

Descriptive and injunctive social norms communicated among groups are known to influence behavior, yet little is known about how they evolve over time and how financial incentives influence norms. This article tests hypotheses about the ways in which monetary incentives can disrupt normative impact while facilitating cooperative behavior. The results of a public goods experiment indicate that the presence of a financial incentive for behavior can reduce the impact of perceived descriptive norms on behavior, and this reduction continues once the incentive is removed. The findings show that group identification enhances the effects of perceived descriptive norms on contribution behavior. The study results form the basis for theory building on the role of financial incentives in normative systems (FINS).

The theory of normative social behavior (TNSB) describes the moderators of the descriptive norm-behavior relationship. Although specified in revisions to the model, the role of involvement as a moderator has not been fully explored. As such, this article predicts that different forms of involvement (i.e., value-, impression-, and outcome-relevant involvement) function in different ways as moderators of the descriptive norm-behavior relationship and determines whether this relationship varies by health and environmental behaviors. This article presents data on three behaviors examined in prior social norms studies: drinking alcohol, fast food consumption, and recycling. Data indicate that the nature of the relationship among the study variables is dependent on the focal behavior. For fast food consumption, the descriptive norm-behavioral intention relationship is moderated by value-relevant involvement and behavioral identity. For recycling, the descriptive norm-behavior relationship is moderated by behavioral identity. Other main effects are evidenced in the data.

Background:Pregnancy risk perceptions and physical activity efficacy beliefs may facilitate or impede pregnancy leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). We examined the separate and joint influence of these variables on LTPA behavior among pregnant women.Methods:Pregnant women (n = 302) completed a survey containing questions on LTPA efficacy beliefs and behavior, as well as pregnancy risk perceptions with respect to the health of the unborn baby. As stipulated by the Risk Perception Attitude (RPA) Framework, 4 attitudinal groups were created: Responsive (High Risk+High Efficacy), Proactive (Low+High), Avoidant (High+Low), and Indifferent (Low+Low). Moderate LTPA and vigorous LTPA were dichotomized for study analyses.Results:A total of 82 women (27.2%) met the moderate physical activity guideline and 90 women (30.1%) performed any vigorous LTPA. Responsive and proactive pregnant women (those with high efficacy) were most likely to meet the moderate guideline and participate in vigorous LTPA. Hierarchical logistic regression did not reveal an interactive effect of pregnancy risk perceptions and LTPA efficacy beliefs for meeting the moderate guideline (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.66–1.36) or any vigorous LTPA participation (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.86–2.29).Conclusions:LTPA efficacy beliefs appear important in facilitating greater levels of pregnancy LTPA. Significant interactive effects between pregnancy risk perceptions and LTPA efficacy beliefs were not found.

The current study tests the predictions of the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB) in a hand-washing context in a Korean sample and extends the theory to examine the role of perceived public...

We revisit some ideas from our previous article on social norms by conceptualizing norms as dynamic entities that both affect and are affected by human action; elaborating on the distinction between collective and perceived norms; summarizing key findings from studies that have adopted the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB) and thereby proposing guidelines for further expanding the purview of the TNSB; discussing the attribute-centered approach as a framework for focusing on behavioral characteristics; and highlighting areas for further inquiry into social norms.

This study uses diffusion of innovations (DOI) as a framework for formative research to understand different stakeholders’ perceptions of renewable energy initiatives (i.e., wind, solar, and biomass). Focus groups ( N =12) were conducted with several different stakeholders in Michigan: farmers ( n = 17), rural residents ( n = 20), urban residents ( n = 30), citizen activists/environmentalists ( n = 13), and individuals who live in tourist-based economies ( n = 7). Data were analyzed based on DOI constructs. Results suggest that farmers would be considered early adopters, while urban residents would fall in the late majority. Overall, stakeholder groups perceived renewable energy to be relatively advantageous and compatible with their values.

Achieving an adequate hunter harvest of game animals that meets wildlife-disease management objectives is a challenge if hunters perceive too few animals relative to expectations. Persuasive communication is a strategy commonly used to influence human perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors in public health. Research on effectiveness of persuasive communication in the context of wildlife-disease management is limited, however, which reduces the utility of communication as a management option. To gain insight into the effectiveness of persuasion in wildlife management, we experimentally evaluated a communication campaign aimed at influencing hunters' perceptions and behavioral intentions to harvest more antlerless white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Reduction of deer density is a prevailing management technique where bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) exists in wild deer populations. In 2012, we conducted an experiment with pre- and post-exposure self-administered mail questionnaires to survey deer hunters in Michigan, USA. Campaign materials were direct mailed with the post-exposure survey. Paired change score analysis was used to evaluate effects of exposure to campaign materials for an intervention relative to control group. Respondents exposed to persuasive communication materials (n = 480) reported changes in perceptions of what others are doing, perceptions of risks from bovine tuberculosis, and behavioral intentions toward hunting and harvesting more antlerless deer. Changes in perceptions of risks from disease management policies negatively affecting deer hunting also were reported in the exposure group. Our results reveal communication can be most persuasive when it focuses on the activity of interest (deer hunting), communicates goals of management (wildlife-disease management), and communicates actions individuals (deer hunters) can take to reduce risks. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.

Human dimensions information about wildlife disease risk management is an important component in developing successful policies because policy implementation depends on stakeholder involvement and public support. Understanding how stakeholders perceive risks is fundamental to successful disease management, yet a clear systematic theory-based framework is lacking. We expanded and tested a portion of the zoonotic disease risk information seeking and processing (ZDRISP) framework using a tailored design method survey with a sample (n= 4,000) of Michigan deer hunters. Our study revealed respondents perceived risks from wildlife disease management policies, which are influenced by disease risk perceptions and subjective and descriptive norms. These results advance a zoonotic disease risk perception theoretical framework that can be applied to understand stakeholder perceptions of different wildlife diseases having varying levels of prevalence, susceptibility, or severity. Integrating insights about human perce...

Voting to tax oneself in the current economic climate seems improbable. Framed in theories of normative influence and behavior change, this study tests the factors that predict voting for a county-level millage (i.e., tax) to fund land preservation. Behavioral beliefs that contribute to people's attitudes toward the millage are identified and a model is tested with an expanded normative component. Results indicate that attitudes and subjective norms significantly predict voting intentions, and injunctive norms (i.e., people's perceptions of others' approval of taking an action) add significantly to the model's predictive power. Findings are reinforced by election results in which the millage proposal passed and can contribute to the applied literature by identifying social-psychological factors that can be targeted with campaign messages.

Websites designed to promote risky activities provide a novel context for studying the role of emotional appeals and message sensation value (MSV) in risk messages in order to ultimately understand the type of messages that motivate people to engage in risk behaviors. Framed in theories of message design and emotion, this study investigates representations of threat, efficacy, and the extent to which risk messages appeal to a range of positive and negative emotions through the examination of 53 shark diving websites using content analysis and computer generated linguistic analysis. Results indicate that few websites provide explicit threat information (i.e. severity and susceptibility) but many do present implicit threats. Efficacy-related messages were present on all websites. Positive emotion was more common than negative emotion and there is little representation of the traditional components of MSV. Implications for theory development and communication about risk-seeking are addressed.

Communication programs are a tool available to wildlife managers for managing risks associated with wildlife diseases such as bovine tuberculosis (TB). Evaluating these communication efforts is vital for successful disease management planning; yet, systematic evaluations of wildlife disease-related communication programs are lacking. To this end, we analyzed the content of 41 print and electronic TB risk communication materials (e.g., brochures, handouts, websites) available to stakeholders in Michigan and Minnesota, USA, during April 2010 to 1) describe and compare the materials; 2) make data-based recommendations to improve existing messages; and 3) highlight the ability of the extended parallel process model (EPPM), a well-known health communication theory, to serve as a framework for evaluation of wildlife disease issues. All message components central to the EPPM were identified in our sample of TB risk communication materials. More than 80% of materials promoted ! 1 behaviors believed to reduce the risks of TB transmission among and between wildlife and livestock in Michigan and Minnesota. Messages conveying severity and susceptibility of TB-related risks were present in 73% and 56% of the materials, respectively; whereas, efficacy messages promoting the ease and effectiveness of recommended behaviors were far less prevalent. ResultsprovideinsightsforfutureTBandwildlifedisease-related riskcommunicationefforts(e.g., design messages that enhance stakeholder perceptions of efficacy) and demonstrate the utility of the EPPM as a framework to evaluate risk communication materials and messages for wildlife disease-related stake- holders. ! 2013 The Wildlife Society

A 2-part study examines the influence of normative messages on college males' hand washing perceptions and behaviors. Study 1 tests for the appropriateness of hand washing as a target of social norms campaigns and tests messages designed to change perceived descriptive norms. Results indicated that hand washing behavior is appropriate for health promotion through normative influence. Study 2, a field experiment observing frequency and efficacy of hand washing behaviors, manipulates behavioral privacy and normative messages in public restrooms. Results provided no evidence for the hypothesis that social norms should be most influential for publicly enacted behaviors. Messages increased hand washing frequency, length of time water was run, and attitudes relative to control. Across all conditions, poor-quality hand washing was evidenced.

Background Hand-hygiene interventions are widely used in schools but their effect on reducing absenteeism is not well known. Methods The aim of our literature review was to determine whether implementation of a hand-hygiene intervention reduced infectious disease-associated absenteeism in elementary schools. The eligible studies (N = 19), published between 1996 and 2014, were summarized and the methodologic quality of each was assessed. Results Our review indicated evidence is available to show hand-hygiene interventions had an effect on reducing acute gastrointestinal illness-associated absenteeism but inadequate evidence is available to show an effect on respiratory illness-associated absenteeism. Conclusions The methodologic quality assessment of eligible studies revealed common design flaws, such as lack of randomization, blinding, and attrition, which must be addressed in future studies to strengthen the evidence base on the effect of hand-hygiene interventions on school absenteeism.

Adolescents’ wishful identification with televised scientist characters was examined as related to interactions among the following variables: gender of participant, gender of scientist character, program genre, and selected character attributes. Findings indicated some gender differences in adolescents’ wishful identification with scientist characters they viewed on television. Boys showed more wishful identification with male scientist than with female scientist characters for all character attributes, and girls showed more wishful identification with female scientist than with male scientist characters portrayed dominant or as working alone. Both girls and boys showed more wishful identification with scientist characters in drama programs than for those in cartoon and educational programs across all character attributes. Both girls and boys showed more wishful identification for some character attributes depending on the program genre viewed. Implications of these findings for producers of television programs and other media are discussed related to efforts to encourage adolescent girls’ interest in science careers.

The Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM; Communication Monographs, 59, 1992, 329) is a predominant message design theory in the social science fear appeal literature that provides a framework for effective communication of health-related information. This paper provides a review and update of the theory and the use of fear appeals in persuasion. First, a brief overview of the EPPM is provided. Then, Littlejohn and Foss (Theories of Human Communication, 2005, Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth) criteria for evaluation of theory are used as a guide for reviewing research guided by the EPPM in terms of the consistency of data with theoretical predictions, how it has been adjusted and extended through research findings, and a discussion of future research to expand social scientific knowledge about fear appeals and persuasion. It is concluded that the EPPM has advanced our understanding of how fear appeals operate and continues to generate questions for research in risk messaging.

1. Decision-makers can leverage understanding about the human dimensions (HD) of shark conservation to inform more effective conservation action. Characterizing risk frames on shark diving websites can provide insight about the HD of shark conservation and deepen understanding of the role of risk in influencing human relationships with wildlife. 2. The objectives of the current study were to: (1) describe risk frames (e.g. victim, perpetrator) found on shark diving websites; (2) explore themes among and between risk frames; and (3) synthesize implications for conservation. 3. Content among 53 websites was analysed in December 2008; 15% used only a perpetrator frame, 21% used only a victim frame, 36% used both frames and 28% used neither frame. 4. Websites with a conservation link were more likely to use a victim frame (T = 0.283, P

This content analysis examined portrayals of scientist characters in 14 television programs popular among or likely to have been viewed by middle school—age children. While male scientists significantly outnumbered and appeared in significantly more scenes than did female scientists, males and females were depicted similarly in reference to professional position, marital status, and parental status. Gender-stereotyped behavior was largely absent in portrayals of scientist characters. Additionally, both male and female scientists were portrayed most often with the wishful identification attribute of intelligence. Implications for middle school—age children’s perceptions of scientists and for cultivating girls’ interest in science careers are discussed.

This journal has played a critical role in promoting norms-based scholarship. Publication of the first issue of Health Communication in 1989 coincided with the publication of the second edition of ...

This two-study experimental design utilizes a group-based priming framework to investigate the relationship between exposure to television news portrayals that intersect race with violent crime and viewers' real-world racial judgments. Results from Study 1 reveal that both the gender of the viewer and the race of the TV news suspect influence subsequent judgments, including attributions about the perpetrator and victim. Findings from Study 2 offer somewhat consistent results, additionally indicating that the race of the depicted suspect has a significant effect on attitudes toward Blacks in greater society, beyond the mediated context.

Little as known about how people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) assess their vulnerability to non-HIVrelated risk factors, and how this judgement is affected by perceived similarity with others. This study indicates not only that PLWH/A are optimistically biased in their risk pereceptions, but also that they do not use others' HIV status to assess similarity. Perceived similarity with others, however, affects risk judgements: greater the perceived similarity with others, greater the tendency to judge others' vulnerability relative to one's own. Findings point to the importance of considering similarity as a key variable in understanding how risk assessments are made by persons with chronic health conditions.