A meta-analysis of fear appeals: Implications for effective public health campaigns

被引:1975
作者
Witte, K [1 ]
Allen, M
机构
[1] Michigan State Univ, Dept Commun, E Lansing, MI 48824 USA
[2] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Commun, Milwaukee, WI 53201 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1177/109019810002700506
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
The fear appeal literature is examined in a comprehensive synthesis using meta-analytical techniques. The meta-analysis suggests that strong fear appeals produce high levels of perceived severity and susceptibility, and are more persuasive than low or weak fear appeals. The results also indicate that fear appeals motivate adaptive danger control actions such as message acceptance and maladaptive fear control actions such as defensive avoidance or reactance. It appears that strong fear appeals and high-efficacy messages produce the greatest behavior change, whereas strong fear appeals with low-efficacy messages produce the greatest levels of defensive responses. Future directions and practical implications are provided.
引用
收藏
页码:591 / 615
页数:25
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