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Published on: March 1, 2019
Enhancing self-protective behavior: efficacy beliefs and peer feedback in risk communication.
Stephan Verroen1, Jan M Gutteling, Peter W De Vries
1Centre for Conflict, Risk, and Safety Perception (iCRiSP), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Summary
Effective risk communication combines high efficacy information with supportive social network site (SNS) feedback to boost self-protective behavior. Peer feedback on low efficacy messages significantly strengthens protective intentions.
Area of Science:
- Risk communication
- Psychology
- Public health
Background:
- Citizens face numerous information sources during high-impact safety incidents.
- Understanding how risk messages and social feedback influence protective behavior is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the combined effect of efficacy information in risk messages and social network site (SNS) peer feedback on self-protective behavior intention.
- To investigate how message efficacy and peer feedback interact to influence involvement and protective intentions.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design with 242 participants.
- Manipulation of efficacy information (high vs. low) in news articles.
- Exposure to supporting vs. opposing peer feedback via SNS messages.
Main Results:
- Significant interaction between efficacy information and peer feedback on protective behavior intention and involvement.
- High efficacy messages with supportive SNS feedback increased involvement and protective intentions.
- Peer feedback had a stronger effect on low efficacy messages.
Conclusions:
- Integrating clear efficacy information with positive social reinforcement enhances public protective behavior.
- Government risk communication strategies should consider the role of social media feedback.
- Further research can refine understanding of psychological factors in crisis communication.
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