Waiting for a Match: Mitigating Reactance in Prosocial Health Behavior Using Psychological Distance.

Publisher: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8908762 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1532-7027 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10410236 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Health Commun Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: [London] : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Original Publication: Hillsdale, N.J. : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, c1989-

Psychological Distance* ; Communication*; Humans ; Persuasive Communication ; Freedom ; Health Behavior

This study examined how psychological distance, both social and temporal, can be leveraged in prosocial health behavior messages to mitigate perceived psychological reactance. Following the construal level and psychological reactance theories, we conducted a 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design ( N = 245), which manipulated naturalistic messages regarding a prosocial communications campaign. Structural equation modeling showed that far temporal distance combined with far social distance could significantly reduce threat to freedom and therefore positively affect attitudes and behavioral intentions toward prosocial health topics. The effect of social distance was found not significant, differing from past findings. Further, intertwined and parallel psychological reactance models were tested and discussed. We suggest the need for more psychological reactance research, particularly examining prosocial health behavior. Strategies for practical persuasion strategies in prosocial messages are proposed.

Date Created: 20210916 Date Completed: 20230301 Latest Revision: 20230314

20230315

10.1080/10410236.2021.1974662

34525854