Norman C. H. Wong

Cancer Information Scanning and Seeking in the General Population

The amount of cancer-related information available in the media and other sources continues to increase each year. We wondered how people make use of such content in making specific health decisions. We studied both the information they actively seek (“seeking”) and that which they encounter in a less purposive way (“scanning”) through a nationally representative survey of adults aged 40–70 years (n = 2,489) focused on information use around three prevention behaviors (dieting, fruit and vegetable consumption, and exercising) and three screening test behaviors (prostate-specific antigen, colonoscopy, mammogram). Overall, respondents reported a great deal of scanning and somewhat less seeking (on average 62% versus 28% for each behavior), and they used a range of sources including mass media, interpersonal conversations, and the Internet, alongside physicians. Seeking was predicted by female gender, age of 55–64 vs. 40–44, higher education, Black race and Hispanic ethnicity, and being married. Scanning was predicted by older age, female gender, and education. Respondents were fairly consistent in their place on a typology of scanning and seeking across behaviors. Seeking was associated with all six behaviors, and scanning was associated with three of six behaviors.

Predictors of Information Seeking about the HPV Vaccine From Parents and Doctors Among Young College Women

This study applied the theory of motivated information management (TMIM) to predict young womens intentions to seek information about the HPV vaccine from their doctors and parents. A sample of 215 women aged 18–25 who have not yet received their HPV vaccinations completed a survey measuring their HPV and cervical cancer risk perceptions, TMIM-related variables (i.e., uncertainty discrepancy, anxiety, outcome expectancy, efficacy, information-seeking intent), and HPV vaccination intentions. Results indicate that positive outcome expectancies, anxiety about uncertainty discrepancy, and HPV risk perception were significant predictors of HPV vaccine information-seeking intent, which in turn predicted HPV vaccination intent.

Interaction of Comparative Cancer Risk and Cancer Efficacy Perceptions on Cancer-Related Information Seeking and Scanning Behaviors

This study examined the interaction between perceived cancer risk and self-efficacy related to cancer screening on cancer-related information seeking and scanning behaviors (SSB) among the general population. Individuals completed a cross-sectional survey, were classified into 1 of 4 clusters based on their relative risk and self-efficacy belief scores (i.e., high relative risk and high self-efficacy, high relative risk and low self-efficacy, low relative risk and high self-efficacy, and low relative risk and low self-efficacy), and asked about their information SSB related to the colonoscopy, prostate-specific antigen test, or mammogram. A national probability sample of 2,489 adults aged 40 to 70 took part in this study. Individuals who perceived themselves to be at high relative risk for cancer and had high self-efficacy beliefs in performing cancer-screening behaviors generally reported the highest amounts of SSB for cancer-screening information, compared to the others.

Mood and Ad Processing: Examining the Impact of Program-Induced Moods on Subsequent Processing of an Antismoking Public Service Advertisement

This study examined the effect of program-induced moods on subsequent processing of an antismoking ad. Participants were induced to experience a happy/sad mood by watching a 5-minute segment of a sitcom/crime drama. They were then shown an antismoking ad and asked about their processing of the ad and attitude toward the ad. Results found those who watched the sitcom report greater heuristic and less cognitive processing of the ad than those who watched the crime drama. All participants reported a positive attitude toward the ad. Findings were consistent with previous research and highlight the importance of appropriate ad placement.

Smoking Is So Ew!: College Smokers’ Reactions to Health- Versus Social-Focused Antismoking Threat Messages

ABSTRACT This study utilizes Terror Management Theory (TMT) to examine differences between eliciting social death and physical death anxiety related to smoking, smoking attitudes, and quitting intent among college students. Moreover, an important TMT variable—self-esteem—was used as a moderator. A 2 × 3 between-subjects factorial design crossed smoking-based self-esteem (low, high) with mortality salience manipulation (health-focused, social-focused, control). Results suggest while both making health-focused salient and making social-focused mortality salient were effective at getting smokers to quit, there was less effect for health-focused mortality salience on those whose self-esteem is strongly tied to smoking. Effect of social-focused mortality salience was more pronounced among participants who highly linked self-esteem with smoking. For smokers with low smoking-based self-esteem, both health-focused and social-focused mortality salience were effective at motivating attitude change toward smoking and quitting intentions. Implications for smoking cessation ad design and TMT are discussed.

“I’m Demi and I Have Bipolar Disorder”: Effect of Parasocial Contact on Reducing Stigma Toward People With Bipolar Disorder

Examining celebrity influence, participants (N = 594) completed an experiment to see if negative stereotypes toward bipolar disorder could be reduced as a function of mode of disease disclosure from a celebrity (Demi Lovato) diagnosed with the condition. Respondents were randomly assigned to view one of three conditions where the celebrity discusses her battle with bipolar disorder (or a comparison message). Measures assessing parasocial relationship (PSR), level of parasocial interaction (PSI), transportation, social distance towards, and negative stereotypes about people with bipolar disorder were used. Social distance and negative stereotypes toward people with bipolar disorder reduced significantly following exposure to Demi Lovato’s disclosure about the disease via either TV/magazine interview. Implications of results for how celebrity disease disclosures may help reduce stigma toward bipolar condition are discussed.

“Vaccinations are Safe and Effective”: Inoculating Positive HPV Vaccine Attitudes Against Antivaccination Attack Messages

This study examined the use of two different inoculation messages to confer resistance to persuasive messages attacking the efficacy and safety of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. A three-phase experiment was conducted involving 110 participants to determine if young women who held positive attitudes toward the HPV vaccine could be inoculated against counterattitudinal attack messages using both a specific and generalized form of an inoculation message. Results found that inoculation treatments aimed at protecting positive attitudes toward vaccinations in general (i.e., all vaccines are safe and effective) were as effective at thwarting attacks on the HPV vaccine as the use of a more specific inoculation treatment (i.e., the HPV vaccine is safe and effective).

Nuances in Inoculation: Protecting Positive Attitudes toward the HPV Vaccine & the Practice of Vaccinating Children

Nuances in Inoculation: Protecting Positive Attitudes toward the HPV Vaccine & the Practice of Vaccinating Children This study examined the use of two different inoculation messages in conferring resistance to persuasive messages attacking vaccinations. A three-phase experiment involving 212 participants was conducted to determine if young women who held positive attitudes toward the HPV vaccine/practice of vaccinating children could be inoculated against messages attacking the HPV vaccine/ practice of vaccinating children.

Mood State or Relational Closeness: Explaining the Impacts of Mood on the Ability to Detect Deception in Friends and Strangers

This study examined the effects a persons prior mood state (happy or sad) has on his or her ability to perceive deception in friends or strangers (N = 208). This study makes predictions based on the Cognitive Functional Model (Nabi, 1999) and Interpersonal Deception Theory (Buller & Burgoon, 1996b). Results indicated that interviewers in the happy mood were significantly less likely to detect deception compared to those in the sad mood. Results showed no differences in the ability to detect deception based on relational closeness. The discussion highlights the importance of mood context in deception detection and on message processing. Implications and plans for future study are discussed.