Facts versus 'Feelings': how rational is the decision to become an organ donor?
Researchers are already aware that decision making about health issues is not necessarily driven by rational or cognitive-based decision-making processes. This appears to be especially true for the decision to donate organs. Although hints about what is actually driving the decision-making process are scattered throughout the literature, noncognitive factors have not been tested systematically. Structural equation modeling of data gathered from 4426 participants at six different geographic locations in the United States demonstrates that cognitive-based factors (such as knowledge about donation) are less influential on the decision to donate than noncognitive variables such as the desire to maintain bodily integrity, worries that signing a donor card might 'jinx' a person, and medical mistrust.
Morgan
Susan E
SE
Department of Communication [corrected] Purdue University, Beering Hall Room 2114 [corrected] West Lafayette, IN 47907-2098 USA. semorgan@purdue.edu
Stephenson
Michael T
MT
Harrison
Tyler R
TR
Afifi
Walid A
WA
Long
Shawn D
SD
D001290:Attitude; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors