Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Electronic Nicotine Product (Enp) Graphic Warnings: Association Between Exposure And Changes In Perceived Susceptibility And Severity Of Explosion And Lung Injuries, Erica Harp, Matthew E. Rossheim, Xiaoquan Zhao, Christian Seiter, Ogechikamma C. Emechebe, Eric Soule

Health Behavior Research

Electronic nicotine products (ENPs) are the most prevalent form of tobacco use among U.S. young adults. Research is needed to investigate how to communicate new risks from ENPs to the public. In this study, we tested the comparative persuasiveness of ENP explosion and lung injury graphic warnings. We recruited a sample of 343 young adults (18 to 28 years; 146 male, 197 female), including both ENP users and nonusers, via Amazon Mechanical Turk in October 2020. We randomly assigned participants to one of six exposure conditions: two images of lung injuries with prevalence statistics, two images of battery explosion injuries …

Just Pin It: Understanding The Dynamics Of Pinterest Use, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, And Health Behaviors, Kathryn E. Dolphin, Rachel Char, Summer Rogers

Health Behavior Research

Image-based social media platforms, such as Pinterest, have revolutionized how individuals seek, share, and interpret health information. Previous research suggests a link between consuming social media content and intentions to engage in health behaviors; however, it is unclear if individuals who actively seek health-related information on social media engage in healthier behaviors. This mixed-methods study explored the relationships among Pinterest use, motivations, self-efficacy, and health behaviors. Women participants (n = 227) completed surveys that included sociodemographic characteristics, motivation, self-efficacy, Pinterest use, and diet and exercise behaviors. Independent samples t-tests assessed differences in exercise behaviors, and multivariate analyses of variance …

Strategy For Expanding Nutrition Professionals’ Competency: A Pilot Case Study In Dissemination And Implementation Science Training, Ayron E. Walker, Elizabeth A. Claydon, Samantha E. Scarneo-Miller, Daniel Totzkay, Melissa D. Olfert

Health Behavior Research

Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) science trainings are essential to build knowledge among a variety of current and future health professionals.

The objective of this study was to pilot-test and assess implementation of a nutrition-specific D&I science training.

Participants (students enrolled in nutrition and public health programs) completed pre/post surveys and exit interviews. Descriptive statistics and a qualitative thematic analysis used deductive coding; in which coding and theme development are directed by existing concepts. Initial coding was completed by one researcher and validated by an additional researcher to describe and provide examples of the categories the Kirkpatrick Model and Implementation Outcomes …

Potentially Misleading Weight Loss Advertisements Targeting Men: Examining Influence Of Celebrity Athlete Endorsement On Ad Believability And Purchase Intentions, Andrew C. Pickett, Katie M. Brown, Zack J. Damon, Natasha T. Brison

Health Behavior Research

Given the prevalence of false or exaggerated claims in advertisements for weight loss products, as well as risks associated with use of unproven dietary supplements and exercise plans, they are subject to heightened scrutiny from regulators. However, celebrity athlete endorsers are increasingly featured in advertisements promoting weight loss products targeting men. This study employed a 2x2 (athlete endorser vs. non-celebrity; plausible vs. unrealistic advertising claim) experimental design, whereby participants (n= 292) were exposed to one of four ad conditions. Results suggest the athlete endorser was perceived as more credible than a non-celebrity, being rated as more expert. Significant …

Examining The Influences Of Covid-19 Information Avoidance And Uncertainty On Perceived Severity Of The Pandemic: Applications From The Health Belief Model And Weick’S Model Of Organizing, Xuewei Chen, Jati Ariati, Ming Li, Gary Kreps

Health Behavior Research

Public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been insufficient at keeping the virus from spreading rapidly and threatening public health around the globe. Not only has society been challenged by biomedical issues of disease contagion, infection, morbidity, and mortality, but has also confronted complex cognitive challenges to making sense of this health threat, especially related to accurately evaluating and responding appropriately to the severity of the pandemic. Perceived severity is an important cognitive factor associated with public willingness to adopt needed prevention, protection, and treatment behaviors for responding to serious health risks, like COVID-19. Information avoidance and uncertainty are …

“I Feel Like It’S One Of Those Things That Everyone Feels The Same Way About, No One Wants To Discuss It”: A Qualitative Examination Of Female College Students’ Pap Smear Experience, Ny'nika T. Mcfadden, Amanda H. Wilkerson, Heather J. Carmack

Health Behavior Research

The purpose of this study was to examine female college students’ Pap smear experience and communication with their provider before, during, and after the exam. In fall 2019, 158 female college students completed an online survey with closed and open-ended questions. Open-ended responses from participants reporting a previous Pap smear (n=36) were qualitatively analyzed to generate themes to explain female college students’ Pap smear experience and communication behavior with their provider before, during, and after the exam. The main themes identified included: Uncomfortable, Low Patient Engagement, Provider Support, and Provider Trust. Female college students overwhelmingly reported discomfort around …

Using Social Media To Disseminate Injury Prevention Content: Is A Picture Worth A Thousand Words?, Rebecca J. Mcadams, Kristin J. Roberts, Elizabeth G. Klein, Jennifer A. Manganello, Lara B. Mckenzie

Health Behavior Research

Social media (SM) offers an opportunity for injury professionals to disseminate reliable safety recommendations to parents, yet little is known about the reach and impact of SM messages on parental safety knowledge and safety behavior adoption. It is also unclear whether electronic health (eHealth) literacy level is associated with understanding of messages. Parents of children (< 7 years) were recruited from a nationally representative consumer panel to complete an online survey assessing their Internet and SM usage and eHealth literacy level using the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Participants were shown three safety SM posts where images and text matched or did not match. A post-exposure survey captured participant understanding of SM post message. Five-hundred eighty parents completed the survey. A majority of participants were female (58.6%) with high eHealth literacy (84.5%). Compared to low eHealth literate parents, a larger proportion of high eHealth literate parents correctly identified the message in mismatched posts (safe sleep: p = .0081; poison prevention: p = .0052), while similar proportions of parents with high and low eHealth literacy correctly identified a matched post for bike safety (p = .7022). Within each eHealth literacy level, high eHealth literate parents were more often able …

An Observational Analysis Of ‘Me Too’ Narratives From Youtube, Jordan L. Nelon, Mandy N. Spadine, Meg S. Patterson, Sydney E. Brown, Christina L. Bookout, Lauren M. Woods, Sara K. Fehr

Health Behavior Research

The ‘me too’ movement originated to help survivors of sexual violence by providing resources and building a community of advocates to exemplify the magnitude of sexual violence victimization. This movement gained momentum via Twitter due to the viral hashtag—#metoo. YouTube is often used as a means of expression in younger generations, thus sexual violence survivors began using the platform as a way to disseminate ‘me too’ narratives. Therefore, this study aimed to examine how sexual violence narratives resulting from the ‘me too’ movement are being told on YouTube and understand the components of the narratives related to self-blaming mindsets. Based …

Health Behaviors And Pandemics, Jay E. Maddock, Anna Greer

Health Behavior Research

Human health behaviors are essential to reducing the spread and impact of pandemics. However, most behavioral scientists do not work in the area of pandemics given the infrequency of their occurrences. This editorial examines relevant health behavior theories, in particular the precaution adoption process model, and how these apply to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mammography Social Support For Women Living In A Midwestern City: Toward Screening Promotion Via Social Interactions, Wasantha P. Jayawardene, Mohammad R. Torabi, David K. Lohrmann, Ahmed H. Youssefagha

Health Behavior Research

Notwithstanding recommendations and interventions, the percentage of 50 – 74-year-old U.S. women who reported having had a mammography in the past two years remained below target coverage. Social interactions may influence mammography rates. To measure characteristics of social interactions in a Midwestern city as they relate to social support for mammography received by women older than 40 years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bloomington, Indiana, sending mail surveys to 3,000 telephone directory addresses selected by simple random sampling. An anonymous, self-administered, closed-ended, questionnaire with eight checklist items (for demographics) and six multipart semantic differential scale items (for …