title: The Role of Narrative and Other-Referencing in Attenuating Psychological Reactance to Diabetes Self-Care Messages.
abstract: This study charts pathways through message resistance to enhance the persuasiveness of diabetes self-care messages. A 2 (narrative) × 2 (other-referencing) × 2 (message) × 4 (order) experiment with adult diabetics (N = 58) tested whether packaging overt recommendations as a story rather than an informational argument (i.e., narrative structure) and highlighting the impact of health decisions on family and friends rather than the individual (i.e., other-referencing) can effectively attenuate psychological reactance to messages encouraging healthy diet and physical activity. Narrative and other-referencing each led to lower perceived threat to choice, less state anger and counterarguing, less negative cognitive responses, more positive attitudes toward the ad and the behaviors promoted, and greater intended compliance with message recommendations. Findings illustrate two strategies that communicators may employ in order to benefit from clear, direct health messages while avoiding the reactance they may provoke. Moreover, findings inform message design for diabetes self-care education.
authors.affiliation: a Oracle Communication, LLC.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: b Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication , University of Oklahoma.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leshner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors