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Secondary Risk Theory: The Role of Personal Relevance as a Boundary Condition
Prerna Shah1, Xinxia Dong2, Yi Yin Leong3
1Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Journal of Health Communication
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Highlighting mammogram risks, like severity and susceptibility, reduced women's intention to get screened. This effect was stronger when personal relevance was high, impacting threat appraisal and screening decisions.
Area of Science:
- Health Communication
- Risk Perception Theory
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Mammograms are crucial for early breast cancer detection.
- Understanding factors influencing screening adherence is vital for public health.
- Secondary risk theory offers a framework to analyze risk communication effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of secondary risk appraisal (mammogram risks) on screening intentions.
- To examine the role of threat and efficacy appraisals in this process.
- To determine if personal relevance moderates the effect of secondary risk appraisal on mammogram intention.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design to test secondary risk theory.
- Manipulation of mammogram risk severity and susceptibility.
- Measurement of threat appraisal, efficacy appraisal, and intention to get a mammogram.
- Inclusion of personal relevance as a moderating variable.
Main Results:
- Highlighting mammogram risks significantly decreased participants' intention to get screened.
- Secondary risk appraisal negatively influenced behavioral intention.
- Personal relevance moderated the relationship, strengthening the negative impact of secondary risk appraisal.
Conclusions:
- Communicating mammogram risks can inadvertently decrease screening intentions.
- Interventions should consider personal relevance when framing mammogram information.
- Future research should explore strategies to mitigate negative effects of risk communication on screening behavior.
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