title: Do you want the good news or the bad news? Gain- versus loss-framed messages following health risk information: The effects on leisure time physical activity beliefs and cognitions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary purpose was to examine the relative effectiveness of chronic disease and psychological health risk information combined with gain- versus loss-framed leisure time physical activity (LTPA) messages for changing perceived personal risk, LTPA response efficacy (i.e., the belief that LTPA can effectively reduce risk), and LTPA intentions. A secondary purpose was to explore the relationship between message framing and cognitive processing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline assessments of perceived risk for inactivity-related disease and psychological health problems, LTPA response efficacy, and intentions were measured among 96 individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants read population-specific information about the risk for inactivity-related disease and psychological health problems following SCI, and perceived risk was reassessed. Participants were then randomized to read LTPA response efficacy messages emphasizing the benefits of LTPA (gain framed) or the risks of inactivity (loss framed). Immediately following message exposure, cognitive processing (i.e., thought listing and message recall), LTPA response efficacy, and LTPA intentions were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in perceived risk were observed following exposure to health risk information. Changes in LTPA response efficacy and intentions were greater following loss-framed messages targeting psychological health compared with gain-framed messages. Greater cognitive processing was observed following loss-framed messages compared with gain-framed messages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following exposure to psychological health risk information, loss-framed messages may be more effective than gain-framed messages for eliciting cognitive processing and changing LTPA beliefs and intentions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bassett-Gunter
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Martin Ginis
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Latimer-Cheung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries