What Drives People Away from COVID-19 Information?: Uncovering the Influences of Personal Networks on Information Avoidance

References

• Afifi, W. A., & Weiner, J. L. (2004). Toward a theory of motivated information management. Communication Theory, 14(2), 167–190. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2004.tb00310.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ashida, S., Wilkinson, A. V., & Koehly, L. M. (2012). Social influence and motivation to change health behaviors among Mexican-origin adults: Implications for diet and physical activity. American Journal of Health Promotion, 26(3), 176–179. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.100107-QUAN-2
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Barbour, J. B., Rintamaki, L. S., Ramsey, J. A., & Brashers, D. E. (2012). Avoiding health information. Journal of Health Communication, 17(2), 212–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2011.585691
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bearman, P., & Parigi, P. (2004). Cloning headless frogs and other important matters: Conversation topics and network structure. Social Forces, 83(2), 535–557. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.2005.0001
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brashers, D. E. (2001). Communication and uncertainty management. Journal of Communication, 51(3), 477–497. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2001.tb02892.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brashers, D. E., Goldsmith, D. J., & Hsieh, E. (2002). Information seeking and avoiding in health contexts. Human Communication Research, 28(2), 258–271. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2002.tb00807.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brashers, D. E., Neidig, J. L., & Goldsmith, D. J. (2004). Social support and the management of uncertainty for people living with HIV or AIDS. Health Communication, 16(3), 305–331. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327027HC1603_3
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Calvillo, D. P., Ross, B. J., Garcia, R. J., Smelter, T. J., & Rutchick, A. M. (2020). Political ideology predicts perceptions of the threat of Covid-19 (and susceptibility to fake news about it). Social Psychological and Personality Science, 11(8), 1119–1128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550620940539
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cao, B., Saffer, A. J., Yang, C., Chen, H., Peng, K., Pan, S., Durvasula, M., Lui, C., Fu, H., Ong, J. J., Tang, W., & Tucker, J. D. (2019). MSM behavior disclosure networks and HIV testing: An egocentric network analysis among MSM in China. AIDS and Behavior, 23(5), 1368–1374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02404-z
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chae, J. (2016). Who avoids cancer information? Examining a psychological process leading to cancer information avoidance. Journal of Health Communication, 21(7), 837–844. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2016.1177144
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chae, J., Lee, C. J., & Kim, K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and psychosocial mechanism of cancer information avoidance: Findings from a national survey of US Adults. Health Communication, 35(3), 322–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2018.1563028
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cialdini, R. B., Kallgren, C. A., & Reno, R. R. (1991). A focus theory of normative conduct: A theoretical refinement and reevaluation of the role of norms in human behavior. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 24(1), 201–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60330-5
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• De Maesschalck, R., Jouan-Rimbaud, D., & Massart, D. L. (2000). The Mahalanobis distance. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 50(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7439(99)00047-7
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Deline, M. B., & Kahlor, L. A. (2019). Planned risk information avoidance: A proposed theoretical model. Communication Theory, 29(3), 360–382. https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qty035
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• El-Toukhy, S. (2015). Parsing susceptibility and severity dimensions of health risk perceptions. Journal of Health Communication, 20(5), 499–511. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2014.989342
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Eveland, J., W., & Hively, M. H. (2009). Political discussion frequency, network size, and “heterogeneity” of discussion as predictors of political knowledge and participation. Journal of Communication, 59(2), 205–224. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2009.01412.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Eveland, W. P., Jr., Hutchens, M. J., & Morey, A. C. (2013). Political network size and its antecedents and consequences. Political Communication, 30(3), 371–394. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2012.737433
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Fischhoff, B., Wong-Parodi, G., Garfin, D. R., Holman, E. A., & Silver, R. C. (2018). Public understanding of Ebola risks: Mastering an unfamiliar threat. Risk Analysis, 38(1), 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12794
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Frey, D. (1982). Different levels of cognitive dissonance, information seeking, and information avoidance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43(6), 1175–1183. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-3514.43.6.1175
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Golman, R., Hagmann, D., & Loewenstein, G. (2017). Information avoidance. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(1), 96–135. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20151245
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Goodall, C. E., & Reed, P. (2013). Threat and efficacy uncertainty in news coverage about bed bugs as unique predictors of information seeking and avoidance: An extension of the EPPM. Health Communication, 28(1), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2012.689096
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360–1380. https://doi.org/10.1086/225469
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Griffin, R. J., Dunwoody, S., & Neuwirth, K. (1999). Proposed model of the relationship of risk information seeking and processing to the development of preventive behaviors. Environmental Research, 80(2), S230–S245. https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1998.3940
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Howell, J. L., Crosier, B. S., & Shepperd, J. A. (2014). Does lacking threat-management resources increase information avoidance? A multi-sample, multi-method investigation. Journal of Research in Personality, 50(1), 102–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2014.03.003
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Howell, J. L., Lipsey, N. P., & Shepperd, J. A. (2021). Health information avoidance. In K. Sweeny & M. L. Robbins (Eds.), The Wiley encyclopedia of health psychology: Volume 2: The social bases of health behavior (pp. 279–286). Wiley Blackwell.
   Google Scholar
• Howell, J. L., & Shepperd, J. A. (2012). Reducing information avoidance through affirmation. Psychological Science, 23(2), 141–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611424164
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Howell, J. L., & Shepperd, J. A. (2016). Establishing an information avoidance scale. Psychological Assessment, 28(12), 1695–1708. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/pas0000315
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• La Due Lake, R., & Huckfeldt, R. (1998). Social capital, social networks, and political participation. Political Psychology, 19(3), 567–584. https://doi.org/10.1111/0162-895X.00118
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lapinski, M. K., & Rimal, R. N. (2005). An explication of social norms. Communication Theory, 15(2), 127–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2005.tb00329.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lazer, D., Baum, M., Ognyanova, K., & Della Volpe, J. (2020). The state of the nation: A 50-state COVID-19 survey report# 1. https://osf.io/arwh3
   Google Scholar
• Lu, Y., & Lee, J. K. (2020). Determinants of cross-cutting discussion on Facebook: Political interest, news consumption, and strong-tie heterogeneity. New Media & Society, 23(1), 175–192. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F1461444819899879
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Matz, D. C., & Wood, W. (2005). Cognitive dissonance in groups: The consequences of disagreement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88(1), 22–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.88.1.22
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• McCarty, C., Lubbers, M. J., Vacca, R., & Molina, J. L. (2019). Conducting personal network research: A practical guide. Guilford.
   Google Scholar
• McLeod, J. M., Scheufele, D. A., Moy, P., Horowitz, E. M., Holbert, R. L., Zhang, W., Zubric, S., & Zubric, J. (1999). Understanding deliberation: The effects of discussion networks on participation in a public forum. Communication Research, 26(6), 743–774. https://doi.org/10.1177/009365099026006005
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Merluzzi, J., & Burt, R. S. (2013). How many names are enough? Identifying network effects with the least set of listed contacts. Social Networks, 35(3), 331–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2013.03.004
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Narayan, B., Case, D. O., & Edwards, S. L. (2011). The role of information avoidance in everyday‐life information behaviors. Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 48(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/meet.2011.14504801085
   Google Scholar
• Nir, L. (2011). Disagreement and opposition in social networks: Does disagreement discourage turnout? Political Studies, 59(3), 674–692. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9248.2010.00873.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Perry, B. L., & Pescosolido, B. A. (2010). Functional specificity in discussion networks: The influence of general and problem-specific networks on health outcomes. Social Networks, 32(4), 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2010.06.005
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Perry, B. L., & Pescosolido, B. A. (2015). Social network activation: The role of health discussion partners in recovery from mental illness. Social Science & Medicine, 125(1), 116–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.12.033
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Perry, B. L., Pescosolido, B. A., & Borgatti, S. P. (2018). Egocentric network analysis: Foundations, methods, and models (Vol. 44). Cambridge University.
   Google Scholar
• Pew Research Center. (2020, April 29). About seven-in-ten U.S. adults say they need to take breaks from COVID-19 news. https://www.journalism.org/2020/04/29/about-seven-in-ten-u-s-adults-say-they-need-to-take-breaks-from-covid-19-news/
   Google Scholar
• Ramanadhan, S., Nagler, R. H., McCloud, R., Kohler, R., & Viswanath, K. (2017). Graphic health warnings as activators of social networks: A field experiment among individuals of low socioeconomic position. Social Science & Medicine, 175(1), 219–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.12.044
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rimal, R. N., & Lapinski, M. K. (2015). A re-explication of social norms, ten years later. Communication Theory, 25(4), 393–409. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12080
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Saffer, A. J., Yang, A., & Qu, Y. (2019). Talking politics and engaging in activism: The influence of publics’ social networks on corporations in the public sphere. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 63(3), 534–565. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2019.1660130
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Scheufele, D. A., Nisbet, M. C., Brossard, D., & Nisbet, E. C. (2004). Social structure and citizenship: Examining the impacts of social setting, network heterogeneity, and informational variables on political participation. Political Communication, 21(3), 315–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584600490481389
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Smith, K. P., & Christakis, N. A. (2008). Social networks and health. Annual Review of Sociology, 34(1), 405–429. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.34.040507.134601
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Song, H., & Eveland, J., . W. (2015). The structure of communication networks matters: How network diversity, centrality, and context influence political ambivalence, participation, and knowledge. Political Communication, 32(1), 83–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2014.882462
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Straits, B. C. (1991). Bringing strong ties back in interpersonal gateways to political information and influence. Public Opinion Quarterly, 55(3), 432–448. https://doi.org/10.1086/269272
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sweeny, K., Melnyk, D., Miller, W., & Shepperd, J. A. (2010). Information avoidance: Who, what, when, and why. Review of General Psychology, 14(4), 340–353. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021288
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Witte, K. (1992). Putting the fear back into fear appeals: The extended parallel process model. Communication Monographs, 59(4), 329–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637759209376276
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Witte, K., Cameron, K. A., McKeon, J. K., & Berkowitz, J. M. (1996). Predicting risk behaviors: Development and validation of a diagnostic scale. Journal of Health Communication, 1(4), 317–341. https://doi.org/10.1080/108107396127988
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Yang, Z. J., & Kahlor, L. (2013). What, me worry? The role of affect in information seeking and avoidance. Science Communication, 35(2), 189–212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1075547012441873
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar