Manipulations to Influence Risk, Worry, and Health Behavior Intentions

Presentation Type

Poster/Portfolio

Presenter Major(s)

Psychology

Mentor Information

Amanda Dillard, dillaram@gvsu.edu

Department

Psychology

Location

Kirkhof Center KC52

Start Date

13-4-2011 1:00 PM

End Date

13-4-2011 2:00 PM

Keywords

Health and Wellness

Abstract

According to health behavior theories (e.g., Janz & Becker, 1984), researchers interested in encouraging health behaviors should increase perceived vulnerability to a particular health threat. Although this could be accomplished by increasing worry or perceived risk, previous research has demonstrated that these constructs could interact to predict health behavior in a counter-intuitive manner such that those with high worry and high perceived risk will be least likely to engage in health-protective behavior (Zajac, Klein, & McCaul, 2006). In this experiment, we explored several manipulations that were designed to influence worry and perceived risk of cancer in college students. In addition to examining effects on worry and perceived risk (in comparison to a control condition), we also examined the interactive relationships of worry and risk on health behavior intentions. In this presentation, we will describe the manipulations and their respective effects.

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Apr 13th, 1:00 PM Apr 13th, 2:00 PM

Manipulations to Influence Risk, Worry, and Health Behavior Intentions

Kirkhof Center KC52

According to health behavior theories (e.g., Janz & Becker, 1984), researchers interested in encouraging health behaviors should increase perceived vulnerability to a particular health threat. Although this could be accomplished by increasing worry or perceived risk, previous research has demonstrated that these constructs could interact to predict health behavior in a counter-intuitive manner such that those with high worry and high perceived risk will be least likely to engage in health-protective behavior (Zajac, Klein, & McCaul, 2006). In this experiment, we explored several manipulations that were designed to influence worry and perceived risk of cancer in college students. In addition to examining effects on worry and perceived risk (in comparison to a control condition), we also examined the interactive relationships of worry and risk on health behavior intentions. In this presentation, we will describe the manipulations and their respective effects.