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African immigrants in the United States have contributed to a culturally and linguistically diverse US population. This also implies an increase in health disparities as minority populations experience a higher prevalence of communicable diseases that are closely linked with social, economic, and environmental disadvantages. Although African immigrants are more likely to be educated, they are also more likely to be challenged by factors associated with cultural differences, language skills, lower health literacy, and access to health information and care services. The purpose of this study was to examine if media use, including social media usage and other communication-related factors (health literacy, eHealth literacy, and health information seeking) influenced their motivations for the prevention of communicable diseases. Based on the Protective Motivation Theory, the study also examined the influence of communication-related factors on threat appraisal (risk perception, vulnerability, and perceived seriousness), coping appraisal (self-efficacy and response efficacy), and risk-reduction behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to enable community members to discuss their perceptions of eating habits and physical activity in relation to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, and reveal facilitators and barriers to healthy eating behavior and physical activity engagement. Design/methodology/approach: Nine focus groups, which included six groups from sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, two parents' groups, and one teachers' group, were conducted in a middle school in southwest Kansas. Individual influences, social influences, and larger contextual influences on early adolescent health were assessed by discussing behaviors, personal characteristics, and environmental factors, based on the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM). Findings: Adolescent participants' knowledge regarding healthful foods was limited. Taste and appearance were the two leading factors that contributed to food choices. Responses from adolescents, parents, and teachers all indicated difficulties when introducing new and healthful food items into adolescents' diets. Besides physical education (PE) and school-related sports, the sources for physical activity were limited. Certain video games were specified as facilitators of physical activity by adolescents. Peer pressure was a predominant theme motivating most adolescents' physical activities as well as food choices. These findings suggest numerous interrelated factors associated with healthy lifestyle in the population of this study. Originality/value: By involving adolescents in the in-depth open-ended discussion through the focus groups helped reveal their unique attitudes, perceptions, and motivations toward practicing healthy lifestyles. Interventions targeting both behavior change and environmental change are needed.

This study is based on a survey of public relations students and examines their attitudes, expectations, and motivations for participating in curriculum-infused service-learning projects. Results indicate that prior participation does not influence attitudes or expectations, but motivation to participate in the project was significantly associated with positive attitude and higher expectations. Students' expectations, which include social and professional growth, and psychological and altruistic gratification through community contributions, indicate a need for discipline-focused service-learning programs and for a focus on civic engagement given the role of public relations in relationship building and in strategically addressing social issues that impact society.

Applying the Protection Motivation Theory, this study examines factors affecting community preparedness in the context of biotechnological hazards. In particular, residents living nearby the National Bio and Agro‐Defence Facility (NBAF), a biosafety level‐4 facility currently under construction, were surveyed. The survey assessed residents' perceptions of key risk communication elements, transparency, consistency, and source, as well as risk perception, knowledge, collective efficacy, involvement, civic engagement behaviours, and preparedness perceptions. Results indicate that sources such as local organisations and mass media, as opposed to social media and word‐of‐mouth, are more reliable and lead to increased knowledge. The structural model suggests that transparent and consistent risk communication leads to community preparedness through knowledge, involvement, risk perception, and collective efficacy. Theoretical implications for the Protection Motivation Theory and practical implications for risk communication regarding biotechnological hazards are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]