Antecedents to Psychological Reactance: The Impact of Threat, Message Frame, and Choice

Health Commun. 2015;30(10):975-85. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2014.910882. Epub 2014 Sep 25.

Abstract

A 2 (Threat: high vs. low) × 2 (Frame: gain vs. loss) × 2 (Choice: yes vs. no) × 2 (Behavior: prevention vs. detection) factorial design Web-based experiment (N = 814) was conducted to investigate the impact of threat to freedom, message frame, and behavioral choice as antecedents to psychological reactance. The intertwined model for reactance measure was replicated. Results showed that threat to freedom and the loss frame increased, and the gain frame and choice mitigated psychological reactance. The advantages of choice and the gain frame were most salient when threat was high.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Choice Behavior
  • Female
  • Freedom
  • Health Communication / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Persuasive Communication*
  • Psychological Theory*
  • Risk
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Skin Neoplasms / psychology
  • Young Adult