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BackgroundAs user modification can alter the addictiveness and toxicity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), more research is needed to understand the types, motivations, risks, and information sources that lead to these product alterations. YouTube has been identified as a major platform where ENDS users obtain and share information about ENDS products and modifications. However, a comprehensive study of ENDS modification videos on YouTube is lacking. ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the content of YouTube videos depicting modifications of ENDS. MethodsYouTube was searched in March 2019 to identify videos depicting ENDS modifications. Search terms were derived from interviews with ENDS users and current literature. We used 28 search phrases that combined the words vape and vaping with modification-related key terms (eg, custom build, modification, and dripping). The final sample included 168 videos. ResultsVideos were 1 to 108 min long (median 9.55). Presenters were largely male (117/168, 69.6%), white (94/168, 56.0%), and older than 25 years (94/168, 56.0%). Most videos gave how to instructions (148/168, 88.1%), but few offered warnings (30/168, 17.9%) or mentioned commercial alternatives to modifications they presented (16/168, 9.5%). The ENDS devices most often featured were drippers (63/168, 37.5%) and refillable tanks (37/168, 22.0%). The most often modified ENDS components were coils (82/168, 48.8%) and e-liquids (34/168, 20.2%), which included adding other substances, such as cannabis, to the e-liquids (6/168, 3.6%). Most videos portrayed ENDS modifications positively (106/168, 63.1% positive; 60/168, 35.7% neutral; and 2/168, 1.2% negative) and were either neutral or positive in their overall portrayal of ENDS devices (78/168, 46.4% positive; 89/168, 53.0% neutral; and 1/168, 0.6% negative). ConclusionsThis study identified several concerning trends in popular YouTube videos on ENDS modifications, including lack of warnings, the addition of marijuana derivatives to e-liquids, and the positive portrayal of ENDS devices and modifications. By identifying the types of modifications (coil and e-liquid being the most prevalent), this study sets an agenda for research on the effects of modifications.

In an experiment (N = 206) using skin cancer prevention messages and a 2 (mortality: salient, control) × 2 (freedom-limiting language: freedom-limiting, autonomy-supportive) independent-group design, we tested the terror management health model and integrated its predictions with the theory of psychological reactance. We used a sample of young adults because they are most at risk for excessive tanning. Consistent with the study predictions about proximal defenses, mortality salience significantly increased intentions to wear sunscreen all year around, relative to the control condition. A significant interaction between freedom-limiting language and mortality salience on behavioral intention to purchase high-SPF lotion revealed that, when a freedom-limiting message was paired with mortality salience, intentions to purchase high-SPF lotion were significantly greater as compared to autonomy-supportive language, indicating that mortality salience mitigated the maladaptive effects of reactance. These results add to a growing body of research identifying boundary conditions for reactance effects and, further, point to the utility of directive (albeit freedom-limiting language) in health-prevention messages attempting to communicate deadly health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Campaigns to promote the COVID-19 vaccination messages to vaccine-hesitant consumers in the late stages of the pandemic are often met with resistance. This study aims to explore a way to leverage positive emotions induced from entertainment media consumption to promote vaccination messages to this audience group. Design/methodology/approach: An online experiment was conducted with vaccine-hesitant consumers (N = 409). Participants viewed personally relevant entertainment music videos or mundane videos and vaccinated messages embedded in user-generated comments. Findings: Data revealed that feelings of inspiration and nostalgia induced from entertainment media consumption increased vaccination intentions via increased risk perceptions and reduced anti-vaccination attitudes. Practical implications: Social marketers should consider leveraging the combined effect of entertainment media-induced positive emotions and user-generated comments to motivate behavioral change among vaccine-hesitant individuals in the late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originality/value: The present study adds to social marketing literature by showing mechanisms that positive emotions induced from entertainment social media consumption might lead to health behavioral change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a 2 (mortality: salient, control) × 2 (freedom‐limiting language: freedom‐limiting, autonomy‐supportive) independent‐group design, this study examined the relationship between mortality salience and psychological reactance in the context of texting‐and‐driving prevention messages. The terror management health model and the theory of psychological reactance guided study predictions. Results showed mortality salience produced adaptive effects on attitudes toward texting‐and‐driving prevention and behavioral intentions to reduce unsafe driving practices. Additionally, some evidence for the effectiveness of directive, albeit freedom‐limiting communication, emerged. These and other results are discussed along with the implications, limitations, and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although theory and research have discussed identity insecurity as a factor that influences intercultural communication behaviors, no reliable measure has been presented to capture this construct. This paper reports results from three studies designed to test and validate a new measure of identity insecurity. Study 1 (N = 173) included item generation and exploratory factor analysis, revealing five unidimensional identity insecurity factors, termed individual identity insecurity, public presentation insecurity, dissimilar others insecurity, reactive insecurity, and social identity insecurity. Study 2 (N = 524) confirmed this five-factor structure. Study 3 (N = 807) further examined the structure and construct validity of the identity insecurity scale. Results confirmed the five-factor solution obtained in Study 2 and revealed the measure had good construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. Thus, we conclude that the proposed new measure for identity insecurity has a clear factor structure, strong factor loadings, and good reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has increased the rates of serious psychological distress (SPD) among the general population. However, the SPD among smokers during the pandemic remains understudied. In a parent study, 1,004 U.S. adult smokers with and without SPD were randomized to view messages about COVID-19 risk, smoking risk, combined COVID-19 and smoking risk, or control. Outcomes were smoking quit intentions and COVID-19 protective behavior intentions. We analyzed the prevalence of SPD among current smokers; the associations between SPD, personal characteristics, and smoking and COVID-19 protective behavioral intentions; and whether SPD moderated the effect of messages about risks of smoking and COVID-19. Thirty-six percent of smokers met the criteria for SPD. Odds of having SPD were higher for older, everyday smokers, who had COVID-19, had poor health and conservative ideology. Smokers with SPD were significantly more likely to report intentions to quit smoking and seek counseling than smokers without SPD, controlling for demographics, readiness to quit, and message condition. SPD was not significantly related to COVID-19 protective intentions. The interactions between SPD and messages were nonsignificant. During the pandemic, smokers with SPD may be motivated to quit smoking, which provides an opportunity for targeted interventions to increase quit attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments (Nstudy1 = 203; Nstudy2 = 177), using STD prevention messages and a 2 (mortality: salient, control) × 2 (freedom threat: high, low) design, tested the Terror Management Health Model and integrated its predictions with the Theory of Psychological Reactance to examine how reactance and mortality salience interact to affect risk communication. In Study 1, mortality salience mitigated freedom-threat perceptions but only at low threat to freedom and, consistent with distal defenses, reduced intentions to use condoms and abstain from sex. Study 2 examined the effects of mortality salience on proximal defenses. As predicted, mortality salience mitigated high levels of freedom threat, but, contrary to TMHM, it also reduced condom use intentions. These and other results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cannabis legalization provides an opportunity to communicate with consumers through mandated health warnings on cannabis packaging. However, research on cannabis health warnings is a nascent field. Therefore, a review is needed to synthesize cannabis health warning research and inform ongoing policy discussions., Methods: This paper used systematic review guidelines to search online databases, including PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science, Jstor, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Medline, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Search strings combined the terms "cannabis" or "marijuana" with "health warning" or "health warning message" or "warning label" or "health warning label" or "health information label." Results were synthesized narratively., Results: The search identified 90 research articles. After screening, 17 studies on the impact of cannabis health warnings were retained. Retained studies focused on the hypothetical effects of cannabis health warnings ( n  = 11; 64.7 %) and "real world" effects of implementing warnings post-legalization ( n  = 6; 35.3 %). Evidence indicated mandated cannabis health warnings improved noticing and recall of health warning content. Cannabis health warnings describing risks of addiction were consistently rated the least effective. Pictorial cannabis health warnings generally outperformed text-only warnings when displayed on their own, while experiments with warnings on products had mixed results. Cannabis health warnings decreased product appeal, mainly when package branding was minimized., Conclusions: Health warnings on cannabis packaging are an important strategy to communicate risk to consumers. Mandating warnings increased notice, recall, and health knowledge. Warnings with pictures and describing specific risks were most effective, as was showing warnings without product branding., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Using a 2 (mortality: salient, control) × 2 (freedom-limiting language: freedom-limiting, autonomy-supportive) independent-group design, this study examined the relationship between mortality salience and psychological reactance in the context of texting-and-driving prevention messages. The terror management health model and the theory of psychological reactance guided study predictions. Results showed mortality salience produced adaptive effects on attitudes toward texting-and-driving prevention and behavioral intentions to reduce unsafe driving practices. Additionally, some evidence for the effectiveness of directive, albeit freedom-limiting communication, emerged. These and other results are discussed along with the implications, limitations, and future research directions., (© 2023 Society for Risk Analysis.)