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ABSTRACT
Recent persuasion theories and some empirical studies indicate that emotional responses can be more persuasive than cognitive evaluations under certain circumstances. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the effects of emotions and perceived risk on health-related intentions and behavior. Ten studies which examined anticipated emotions (AdE) and 19 studies which examined anticipatory emotions (AyE) were included. AdE was moderately associated with health intention (r = 0.38, 95% CI 0.24–0.51) and behavior (r = 0.48, 95% CI 0.43–0.53). The average correlations with AyE were small (with intention r = 0.25, 95% CI 0.18–0.31; with behavior r = 0.18, 95% CI 0.11–0.23). AdE was significantly more likely to lead to ideal intentions and behavior than perceived risk, and was more likely to promote desired behaviors than AyE. AdE had a stronger effect on intentions to prevent disease compared to detect disease. Other moderators were discussed. Theoretical and practical implications are provided.
Notes
1 Six out of seven genetic testing studies examined genetic testing for cancer. Both cancer screening and genetic testing may uncover diseases which cannot be noticed timely. Thus, they were put into one category.
2 Outcome (I=intention, B=behavior); Study population (general population=0, college sample=1); message (without a message=0, with a message=1); (h) the function of the health behavior (detection=0, prevention=1); the domain of the health behavior (vaccination=1, quit smoking=2, cancer screening and genetic testing=3).
3 The size of the grey box shows the weight given to each study. The length of the line represents the 95% CI of each effect size. The black diamond represents the summary effect size. The length of the diamond reveals the 95% CI for the summary effect size.