University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Appealing to fear: a meta-analysis of fear appeal effectiveness and theories

Tannenbaum, Melanie B

Content Files
TANNENBAUM-DISSERTATION-2015.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/78405

Description

Title
Appealing to fear: a meta-analysis of fear appeal effectiveness and theories
Author(s)
Tannenbaum, Melanie B
Issue Date
2015-04-21
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Albarracin, Dolores
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Albarracin, Dolores
Committee Member(s)
  • Kraus, Michael
  • Preston, Jesse
  • Carpenter, Nichelle
  • Vargas, Patrick T.
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2015-07-22T22:16:59Z
Keyword(s)
  • fear appeals
  • risk
  • health communication
  • meta-analysis
Abstract
The effects of fear appeals on attitudes, intentions, and behaviors were examined in a comprehensive meta-analysis. Studies were included if they contained a treatment group exposed to a fear appeal, a valid comparison group, a manipulation of depicted fear, a measure of attitudes, intentions, or behaviors concerning the targeted risk or recommended solution, and adequate statistics to calculate effect sizes. The meta-analysis included 127 papers (9% unpublished) yielding 248 independent samples (NTotal = 27,372) collected from diverse populations. Results showed a positive effect of fear appeals on attitudes, intentions, and behaviors, with the average effect on a composite index being fixed-effects d ̅ = 0.27. Moderation analyses based on prominent fear appeal theories showed that the effectiveness of fear appeals increased when the message depicted higher levels of fear, included efficacy statements, and depicted high susceptibility and severity. Messages were also more influential when the recommended behavior was one-time only, was self-esteem enhancing (hindering) and death was (was not) mentioned, and occurred at a delay when death was mentioned. Finally, fear appeals were more influential when the message’s audience was primarily female, from collectivist cultures, and young adult.
Graduation Semester
2015-5
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78405
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2015 Melanie Tannenbaum

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