Responses to threat information.
Using the Common Sense Model to examine responses to health risk information, a laboratory study was conducted. Subjects were assigned randomly to one of four groups by manipulating information about high or normal blood glucose (BG) and a low or high threat message about the controllability of Type II diabetes. Subjects in the high BG groups reported more diabetes-related symptoms and stronger intentions to change certain behaviors. Subjects reading a high-threat message expressed stronger intentions to see a health professional than did those reading a low-threat message. The results suggest that perceptions of one's risk status and the degree of threat associated with an illness effects symptom perceptions and behavioral intentions.
Baumann
L J
LJ
Keller
M L
ML
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors