Have No Fear: How Individuals Differing in Uncertainty Avoidance, Anxiety, and Chance Belief Process Health Risk Messages

Abstract

In a sample of Belgian and Irish participants, we examine the impact of individual differences in uncertainty avoidance, anxiety, and chance belief on the processing of health risk messages. We test a model based on the extended parallel processing model (EPPM) using multigroup comparisons in structural equation modeling (SEM). Groups differing in chance belief process health risk messages in a similar way. Perceived efficacy determines message outcomes more strongly for low-anxiety and low-uncertainty-avoidance groups. Perceived threat has a stronger impact on fear for high-anxiety individuals, while it has a stronger impact on message acceptance for low-anxiety individuals.