title: Feelings and intervention judgments as mediators in the risk perception-intention relationship.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the mediating role of measures of persuasion in the relationship between risk perceptions and intentions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first study included 413 obese subjects (mean age = 45.3 years); the second study, 781 overweight subjects (mean age = 46.6 years). All measures were assessed by self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feelings and intervention judgments were mediators in the relationship between risk perceptions and intention to eat healthier, do more physical activity (study 1) and intention to reduce saturated fat (study 2). Feelings was the only mediator in the relationship between risk perceptions and intention to stop smoking (study 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future interventions targeting risk perceptions to increase intentions are likely to be more effective if subjects find the information emotionally impactful, credible, and engaging.
authors.affiliation: EMGO Institute for Health Care & Research, Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands. soureti_n@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soureti
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurling
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cobain
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Mechelen
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chinapaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology