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Risk perception measures' associations with behavior intentions, affect, and cognition following colon cancer screening messages.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dillard, AJ; Ferrer, RA; Ubel, PA; Fagerlin, A
Published in: Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
January 2012

Risk perception is important for motivating health behavior (e.g., Janz & Becker, 1984), but different measures of the construct may change how important that relationship appears. In two studies, we examined associations between four measures of risk perception, health behavior intentions and possible behavioral determinants.Participants in these studies, who were due for colorectal cancer screening, read an online message about the importance of screening to reduce the chance of cancer. We examined bivariate and multivariate associations between risk perception measures, including absolute, comparative, and feelings-of-risk, and behavioral intentions to screen, general worry, and knowledge and attitudes related to screening.Results across the two studies were consistent, with all risk perception measures being correlated with intentions and attitudes. Multivariate analyses revealed that feelings-of-risk was most predictive of all variables, with the exception of general worry, for which comparative measures were the most predictive.Researchers interested in risk perception should assess feelings-of-risk along with more traditional measures. Those interested in influencing health behavior specifically should attempt to increase feelings of vulnerability rather than numerical risk.

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Published In

Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association

DOI

EISSN

1930-7810

ISSN

0278-6133

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

31

Issue

1

Start / End Page

106 / 113

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk
  • Public Health
  • Perception
  • Neoplasms
  • Motivation
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Intention
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior
 

Citation

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Dillard, A. J., Ferrer, R. A., Ubel, P. A., & Fagerlin, A. (2012). Risk perception measures' associations with behavior intentions, affect, and cognition following colon cancer screening messages. Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 31(1), 106–113. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024787
Dillard, Amanda J., Rebecca A. Ferrer, Peter A. Ubel, and Angela Fagerlin. “Risk perception measures' associations with behavior intentions, affect, and cognition following colon cancer screening messages.Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association 31, no. 1 (January 2012): 106–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024787.
Dillard AJ, Ferrer RA, Ubel PA, Fagerlin A. Risk perception measures' associations with behavior intentions, affect, and cognition following colon cancer screening messages. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association. 2012 Jan;31(1):106–13.
Dillard, Amanda J., et al. “Risk perception measures' associations with behavior intentions, affect, and cognition following colon cancer screening messages.Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, vol. 31, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 106–13. Epmc, doi:10.1037/a0024787.
Dillard AJ, Ferrer RA, Ubel PA, Fagerlin A. Risk perception measures' associations with behavior intentions, affect, and cognition following colon cancer screening messages. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association. 2012 Jan;31(1):106–113.

Published In

Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association

DOI

EISSN

1930-7810

ISSN

0278-6133

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

31

Issue

1

Start / End Page

106 / 113

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk
  • Public Health
  • Perception
  • Neoplasms
  • Motivation
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Intention
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior