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Willoughby JF, Couto L, Kang S, Randall J, Kirkpatrick AW, Lee DKL, Su Y, Booth AM, Domgaard S. An Exploratory Content Analysis of the Use of Health Communication Strategies and Presence of Objectification in Fitness Influencer Social Media Posts. Health Commun 2024; 39:888-895. [PMID: 36998109 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2190248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Health and fitness content intended to inspire people to live healthy lives (e.g. "fitspiration") has been linked to negative body image among girls and young women. Fitness influencers purport wanting to motivate healthy behaviors. This study seeks to examine the presence of strategies known to positively influence health behaviors (e.g. attitudes, self-efficacy) as well as of content known to have a negative influence (e.g. objectification) among fitness influencers. We conducted a content analysis (N = 441) of a random sample of one year of posts from four Instagram fitness influencers popular with girls and young women in the United States. The main analysis consisted of codes related to objectification, health promotion strategies, health-related content, and social engagement (i.e., likes). We found that fitness influencers included content that conveyed constructs previously found to positively influence health behaviors (e.g., attitudes and self-efficacy), but objectification was frequently present, in more than half of the posts. Additionally, we found that the presence of objectification in posts was negatively associated with likes, a form of social endorsement. We suggest health communicators aim to work in tandem with fitness influencers to include content that may motivate positive health behaviors and improve media literacy and that influencers aim to reduce the amount of objectifying content included in their posts. Our findings shed light on content being conveyed and possible insights into the negative effects associated with viewing such content.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leticia Couto
- The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
| | - Soojung Kang
- The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
| | - Jordyn Randall
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of North Texas
| | - Alex W Kirkpatrick
- The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
| | | | - Yan Su
- School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University
| | | | - Shawn Domgaard
- The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
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Borah P, Austin EW, Lee DKL. COVID-19 Vaccine Intention and Social Cognitive Theory: The Role of Individual Responsibility and Partisan Media Use in a Moderated Moderated Mediation Model. Health Commun 2023; 38:2765-2773. [PMID: 36002351 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2114766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the sheer devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, vaccine hesitancy is a major barrier to a successful implementation of the vaccine. We apply two moderators to examine the associations of efficacy and expectancies with COVID-19 vaccine intention. Specifically, we use national survey data collected online in 2020 (N = 1264) and a moderated moderated mediation PROCESS model to examine 1) the associations between self-efficacy about COVID-19 and vaccine intention mediated by positive outcome expectancies and 2) moderating roles of individual responsibility and partisan media use. The findings show that the path from efficacy to expectancies is moderated by individual responsibility, while the path from expectancies to vaccine intention is moderated by liberal media use. Our findings support the strategic application of SCT to emphasize the role of personal responsibility in campaigns to encourage vaccination for the COVID-19 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Porismita Borah
- GTZN 224, Department of Strategic Communication, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
- Democracy Research Unit, Political Science, University of Salamanca
| | - Erica Weintraub Austin
- Department of Strategic Communication, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
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Xiao X, Borah P, Lee DKL, Su Y, Kim S. A Story is Better Told With Collective Interests: An Experimental Examination of Misinformation Correction During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:915-923. [PMID: 37309829 PMCID: PMC10265266 DOI: 10.1177/08901171231184075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine strategies that help motivate social correction behaviors to combat COVID-19-related health misinformation on social media. DESIGN 2 (message types: narrative vs statistics) x 2 (social frames: individual vs collective) between-subjects experiment. SETTING Qualtrics-based online experiment via Lucid. SUBJECTS The final sample consisted of 450 participants (Mage = 45.31). MEASURES Manipulation check, discussion and correction intentions, and need for cognition (NFC). ANALYSIS ANCOVA and PROCESS model 3 were used to analyze the data. RESULTS Significant interaction effects emerged between message types and social frames on discussion intention, F (1, 442) = 5.26, P = .022, and correction intention, F (1, 442) = 4.85, P = .028. Collectively framed narrative correction (Mdiscussion = 3.15, Mcorrection = 3.17) was more effective than individually framed narrative correction (Mdiscussion = 2.73, Mcorrection = 2.77). Individually framed statistical correction (Mdiscussion = 3.10, Mcorrection = 2.95) was more persuasive than collectively framed statistical correction (Mdiscussion = 2.89, Mcorrection = 2.69). The interaction effects were more evident for people low on NFC, P = .031. CONCLUSION In motivating social correction behaviors, a story is better told with an emphasis on collective interests, and numbers are better presented with personal gains and losses. Future interventions should identify the target audience based on the level of NFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizhu Xiao
- School of Literature, Journalism and Communication, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Porismita Borah
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Danielle Ka Lai Lee
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Yan Su
- School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Sojung Kim
- Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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Ka Lai Lee D, Jiang CL. Culture-centric narratives of influenza vaccination among high-risk groups in Hong Kong. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:6974793. [PMID: 36617294 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the effectiveness of influenza vaccination, the vaccine coverage rate among high-risk groups in Hong Kong is less than optimal. Guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM) and culture-centric narrative approach, we examined the role of cultural specificities in implicit assumptions held by at-risk individuals when the individuals decided whether to receive the vaccine. Data were collected from 29 in-depth interviews with people from high-risk groups in Hong Kong. From their decision narratives, it is evident that the local socio-cultural characteristics and collectivistic ideology are useful in understanding the perceptions of influenza severity, susceptibility to infection, perceived barriers and benefits, and self-efficacy of accepting or rejecting the vaccine among the high-risk individuals. Implications of vaccination message designs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Crystal Li Jiang
- Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, China
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Borah P, Su Y, Xiao X, Lai Lee DK. Incidental news exposure and COVID-19 misperceptions: A moderated-mediation model. Computers in Human Behavior 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.107173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Lee DKL. Enjoying nature on Instagram: A moderated mediation model of photographic aesthetics, image manipulation, and environmental attitude. Curr Psychol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02887-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Borah P, Xiao X, Lai Lee DK. Narrative messages, information seeking and COVID-19 vaccine intention: The moderating role of perceived behavioral control. Am J Health Promot 2022; 36:923-933. [PMID: 35081757 PMCID: PMC8960749 DOI: 10.1177/08901171221075019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The main purposes of the current study are to examine 1) the influence of narrative vs statistics messages on COVID-19 related information seeking and COVID-19 vaccine intention and 2) the moderating role of perceived behavioral control (PBC). Design Data for a between-subject randomized experiment were collected online. The manipulation messages were presented as screenshots from the CDC’s Facebook page. Setting The participants were recruited from Amazon MTurk. Subjects A total of 300 subjects participated in the study, who were 18 years and above (M = 38.40). Measures Intention to seek information, COVID-19 vaccine intention, and PBC. Analysis To test the hypotheses, we utilized Hayes’s (2014) PROCESS for SPSS (Model 1). For intention to seek information, the main effect of the message manipulation (narrative vs statistics) [b = −2.10, t (300) = −4.14, P < .001] and the interaction [b = .41, t (300) = 3.88, P < .001] were significant. For vaccine intention, the main effects of message manipulation [b = 1.64, t (300) = −2.61, P < .005] and the interaction [b = .34, t (300) = 2.64, P < .005] were significant. Results Our research found that narrative messages were more persuasive for both information seeking and vaccine intention. But this was true only in the case of individuals whose PBC was low. Conclusions Our findings have critical implications for vaccine promotion research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xizhu Xiao
- School of Journalism and Communication12593Qingdao University
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Su Y, Lee DKL, Xiao X, Li W, Shu W. Who endorses conspiracy theories? A moderated mediation model of Chinese and international social media use, media skepticism, need for cognition, and COVID-19 conspiracy theory endorsement in China. Comput Human Behav 2021; 120:106760. [PMID: 34955595 PMCID: PMC8686206 DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, various conspiracy theories have been circulating through social media platforms. Scholars have raised concerns about the negative ramifications of conspiracy theories, such as the deterrence of preventive measures. Against this backdrop, the current study analyzed an online survey (N = 731) from China and examined the conditional indirect effects of Chinese and international social media use on conspiracy theory endorsement (CTE) regarding COVID-19. Findings showed that Chinese social media use was not associated with CTE, while international social media use was negatively associated with CTE. Moreover, the significant association was mediated by media skepticism. Further, individuals' level of need for cognition (NFC) was found to moderate the indirect effect. That is, among people with higher levels of NFC, the negative indirect effect of international social media use on CTE became stronger. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Su
- PhD Candidate Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
| | - Danielle Ka Lai Lee
- PhD Candidate Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
| | - Xizhu Xiao
- Assistant Professor School of Journalism and Communication, Qingdao University Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Li
- Assistant Professor School of Journalism and Communication, Xi'an International Studies University Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenxuan Shu
- Teaching Assistant the Department of Foreign Languages, Xi'an Jiaotong University City College Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Su Y, Lee DKL, Xiao X. "I enjoy thinking critically, and I'm in control": Examining the influences of media literacy factors on misperceptions amidst the COVID-19 infodemic. Comput Human Behav 2021; 128:107111. [PMID: 34866771 PMCID: PMC8631744 DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.107111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Misinformation circulation has arguably reached a peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an “infodemic” that severely endangers public health and well-being. Using a moderated mediation model, a survey of 712 respondents from China reveals that social media information seeking is positively associated with COVID-19 misperceptions, while need for cognition (NFC) is negatively associated with it. Both relationships became more significant while mediating through individuals' general misperceptions. Moreover, it is found that among those with greater locus of control over media, the association between social media information seeking and COVID-19 misperceptions became more positive, while the association between NFC and COVID-19 misperceptions became more negative among those with greater media locus of control. Findings provide insights into the misperception research and have practical implications regarding infodemic management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Su
- School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 , China
| | - Danielle Ka Lai Lee
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
| | - Xizhu Xiao
- School of Journalism and Communication, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071 , China
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Lee DKL, Ramazan O. Fact-Checking of Health Information: The Effect of Media Literacy, Metacognition and Health Information Exposure. J Health Commun 2021; 26:491-500. [PMID: 34292862 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2021.1955312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
With the rampant circulation of health information, concerns for the information quality are growing. Thereby, scholars are calling for media literacy as an educative means to cultivate fact-checking behavior among information consumers. Focusing on the critical role of metacognition for education effectiveness, this study examined the underlying mechanism that is conducive to the success of media literacy in the context of health information consumption. Based on the survey data collected from 502 Reddit.com users, our findings showed that media literacy was positively associated with fact-checking behavior for health information. Mediation analysis indicated that metacognition mediated the positive relationship between media literacy and fact-checking behavior. In addition, moderated-mediation analysis demonstrated that the mediating effect was weaker for individuals who had higher exposure to health information. The study sheds light on the factors that are essential for the success of media literacy. Implications and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Ka Lai Lee
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Onur Ramazan
- Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Numerous studies examined HPV vaccination promotional strategies. However, an overview of theory use, a synthesis of strategies' effectiveness and an examination of the moderating influence of theory are absent. DATA SOURCE We retrieved studies from Academic Search Complete, Business Source Complete, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CMMC, CINAHL, and MEDLINE. STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA 1) peer-reviewed articles written in English, 2) experimental or quasi-experimental, 3) measure HPV vaccination-related outcomes, 4) had to contain a control condition and report statistics necessary for conversion (for meta-analysis only). DATA EXTRACTION 70 and 30 studies were included for the systematic review and meta-analysis respectively. DATA SYNTHESIS Four major categories were coded: study information, theory use, type of theory, and outcomes. Two independent coders coded the sample (Cohen's Kappa ranged from .8 to 1). RESULTS Most of the studies were based in the U.S. (77%, k = 54) with convenient samples (80%, k = 56), targeted toward females (46%, k = 32), and around a quarter did not employ any theories (47%, k = 33). Among theory-driven studies, the most commonly used were Framing (22%, k = 19), Health Belief Model (HBM; 13%, k = 12), and Narrative (7%, k = 6). Among controlled studies, promotional strategies were significantly more effective compared to the control (r+ = .25, p < .001). Strategies guided by the information, motivation, behavioral skills model (IMB) were more effective (r+ = .75, p < .001) than studies guided by framing theory (r+ = -.23, p < .001), HBM (r+ = .01, p < .001), and other theories (r+ = .11, p < .001). CONCLUSION This review contributes to HPV vaccination promotion literature by offering a comprehensive overview of promotional strategies and practical suggestions for future research and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizhu Xiao
- School of Journalism and Communication, 12593Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Danielle Ka Lai Lee
- The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, 6760Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Rachel Min Wong
- Department of Kinesiology & Educational Psychology, College of Education, yWashington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Porismita Borah
- The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, 6760Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Himelboim I, Xiao X, Lee DKL, Wang MY, Borah P. A Social Networks Approach to Understanding Vaccine Conversations on Twitter: Network Clusters, Sentiment, and Certainty in HPV Social Networks. Health Commun 2020; 35:607-615. [PMID: 31199698 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2019.1573446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Individuals increasingly rely on the Internet, and social media in particular, for health-related information. A recent survey reports that 80% of Internet users search for health information online. In the present study, we employ Twitter data to understand content characteristics and the patterns of content flow of the conversations about the HPV vaccine debate. Approaching the HPV vaccine conversations on Twitter as a social network, we can identify key self-formed subgroups-clusters of users who create "siloes" of interactions and information flow. Combining network analysis, computer-aided content analysis, and human-coded content analysis, we explored the communication dynamics within the groups in terms of group members' affective and cognitive characteristics. Our findings show that positive emotion is positively correlated with cluster density, an indicator of strong ties and rapid information flow. In the case of negative emotion, we found that anger is a significant negative predictor for graph density. We also found a correlation between certainty and tentativeness; both at cluster as well as at tweet level, suggesting that clusters bring together people who are sure about the HPV vaccine and people who are exploring for answers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itai Himelboim
- Social media Engagement and Evaluation, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
| | - Xizhu Xiao
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
| | | | - Meredith Y Wang
- Department of Mass Communication, Stephen F. Austin State University
| | - Porismita Borah
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
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