Beneficial effects of reactance in health-related behavior? The effects of fear appeals on defensive and accepting reactions of smokers with different levels of self-esteem

Claudia Poggiolini

doi:10.5771/2192-4007-2020-3-421

Contents
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- Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis
- 341–481 FULL PAPER 341–481
  - 341–366 The effectiveness of a positively vs. negatively valenced PSA against sexually transmitted diseases – evidence from an experimental study Alexander Ort, Andreas Fahr Alexander Ort, Andreas Fahr 341–366
  - 367–393 Communication floods – Emails in scholarly communication Corinna Lüthje, Franziska Thiele Corinna Lüthje, Franziska Thiele 367–393
  - 394–420 Five days without a smartphone. Smartphone use and subjective well-being: Results from a study comparing normal use with a deprivation condition Susann Kohout, Christina Schumann Susann Kohout, Christina Schumann 394–420
  - 421–444 Beneficial effects of reactance in health-related behavior? The effects of fear appeals on defensive and accepting reactions of smokers with different levels of self-esteem Claudia Poggiolini Claudia Poggiolini 421–444
  - 445–481 Wie der Online-Boulevardjournalismus die Gefährlichkeit der islamistischen Szene konstruiert – und Muslime unter Generalverdacht stellt Eine Analyse der Berichterstattung von krone .at Philip Baugut Philip Baugut 445–481
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SCM Studies in Communication and Media , page 421 - 444

Beneficial effects of reactance in health-related behavior? The effects of fear appeals on defensive and accepting reactions of smokers with different levels of self-esteem

Autoren

Claudia Poggiolini

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2192-4007-2020-3-421
- ISSN: 2192-4007
- ISSN online: 2192-4007
Abstract

In this study, the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) served as a theoretical background for explaining the persuasive effects of fear appeals on smokers. Based on the self-consistency theory, self-esteem was included as a moderator in this model for understanding in more detail under which circumstances, a fear appeal leads to accepting responses or to reactance. An online experiment was conducted, participating smokers read an article that contained either a neutral picture or a fear appeal. Including self-esteem in the EPPM revealed that in contrast to smokers with high self-esteem, smokers with low self-esteem increased perceived susceptibility and intention to quit, as well as reactance to a fear appeal. Moreover, reactance could not be considered a negative reaction to the fear appeal message, because for individuals with low self-esteem it was positively associated with the intention to quit. Results suggest that additionally considering smokers’ self-esteem can contribute to a more accurate prediction of the persuasive effects of fear appeals. The impact of self-esteem and reactance in health-related behavior is discussed, as are the implications for health-related messages and future research.
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