Trust in science moderates the effects of high/low threat communication on psychological reactance to COVID-19-related public health messages

Figures & data

Figure 1. Stimulus material.

Table 1. Descriptive statistics.

		M	SD
1. Reactance proneness		2.45	0.71
2. Trust in science		3.77	0.95
		COVID-19		Physical activity
		M	SD	M	SD
3. State reactance	Low threat	−0.30	1.45	−0.33	1.20
	High threat	0.32	1.84	0.31	1.87
4. Attitudes	Low threat	4.96	1.79	6.00	0.85
	High threat	4.66	1.99	5.94	0.87
5. Beh. intentions	Low threat	5.77	1.81	5.80	1.57
	High threat	5.17	2.28	5.67	1.45

Table 2. Bivariate associations.

	1.	2.	3.	4.	5.
1. Reactance proneness	-	-.56***	.49***	-.55***	-.50***
2. Trust in science	-.56***	-	-.58***	.76***	.67***
3. State reactance	.14*	-.01	-	-.67***	-.64***
4. Attitudes	-.02	-.06	-.27***	-	.81***
5. Beh. Intentions	-.15*	.07	-.19**	.46***	-

Notes. Results related to the COVID-19 messages are displayed above the diagonal, while results related to the physical activity messages are displayed below the diagonal. * p < .050, ** p < .010, *** p < .001

Table 3. Follow-up tests: COVID-19.

	F	df1, df2	p	ηp^2
State reactance
Threat	17.84	1, 223	< .001***	.074
Trust in science	46.40	1, 223	< .001***	.172
Threat*Trust	4.73	1, 223	.031*	.021
Attitudes
Threat	5.93	1, 223	.016*	.026
Trust in science	140.12	1, 223	< .001***	.386
Threat*Trust	3.30	1, 223	.071	.015
Behavioral intentions
Threat	17.77	1, 223	< .001***	.074
Trust in science	84.35	1, 223	< .001***	.274
Threat*Trust	9.79	1, 223	.002**	.042

Notes. * p < .050, ** p < .010, *** p < .001

Figure 2. Interaction effects of message characteristics and trust in science on state reactance, attitudes, and behavioral intentions.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, NP, upon reasonable request.