When the threat of SARS-CoV2 is presented with more active language, participants report a greater degree of anger, arguing with sources, and disbelief (\u201cnegative cognition\u201d), whereas perception of susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection and severity of COVID-19 disease were unchanged. In an online study\u00a0with 207 participants recruited from Amazon MTurk, when SARS-CoV-2 was presented in a more active manner (\u201cthe virus is more likely to prey on people in the coming days\u201d) participants reported higher psychological reactance than when conveyed in a more human-centered fashion (\u201cmore people are likely to contract the virus in the coming days\u201d). The authors acknowledge that the study cohort (mostly white, middle-class males) may not be representative of the general population and may be subject to social desirability bias.<\/p>\n
Ma and Miller. (Nov 16, 2020). The Effects of Agency Assignment and Reference Point on Responses to COVID-19 Messages. Health Communication. <\/i>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10410236.2020.1848066<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When the threat of SARS-CoV2 is presented with more active language, participants report a greater degree of anger, arguing with sources, and disbelief (\u201cnegative cognition\u201d), whereas perception of susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection and severity of COVID-19 disease were unchanged. In an online study\u00a0with 207 participants recruited from Amazon MTurk, when SARS-CoV-2 was presented in a…<\/p>\n