Responses to Threat Information

Abstract

Using the Common Sense Model to examine responses to health risk information, a laboratory study was conducted. Subjects were assigned randomly to one of four groups by manipulating information about high or normal blood glucose (BG) and a low or high threat message about the controllability of Type II diabetes. Subjects in the high BG groups reported more diabetes-related symptoms and stronger intentions to change certain behaviors. Subjects reading a high-threat message expressed stronger intentions to see a health professional than did those reading a low-threat message. The results suggest that perceptions of one's risk status and the degree of threat associated with an illness effects symptom perceptions and behavioral intentions.