Avoidance Intentions Research Articles

When risk communication backfires: Randomized controlled trial on self-affirmation and reactance to personalized risk feedback in high-risk individuals.

Health promotion often faces the problem that populations with high behavioral risk profiles respond defensively to health promotion messages by negating risk or reactant behavior. Self-affirmation theory proposes that defensive reactions are an attempt of the self-system to maintain integrity. In this article, we examine whether a self-affirmation manipulation can mitigate defensive responses to personalized visual risk feedback in the skin cancer prevention context (ultraviolet [UV] photography), and whether the effects pertain to individuals with high behavioral risk status (high personal relevance of tanning). We conducted a full-factorial randomized controlled trial (N = 292; age 11-71) following a 2 * 2 design (UV photo yes/no, self-affirmation yes/no). Follow-up period was 2 weeks. Subsequent tanning behavior, sun avoidance intentions, and risk perception. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed a three-way interaction between risk feedback, the self-affirmation manipulation, and risk status for the three outcome measures. Follow-up analyses of variance (ANOVAs) indicated that high-risk individuals receiving only the risk feedback intervention reacted defensively and reported higher exposure. A self-affirmation manipulation mitigates this reactance effect both on the level of cognitions and behavior. Self-affirmation has influential implications not only for Social Psychology but also for health prevention measures. The findings support the effectiveness of self-affirmation in reducing reactant and defensive reactions to personalized visual risk feedback. Interactions with health risk status indicate that self-affirmation might increase the effectiveness of health promotion messages in high-risk populations.

Reducing HIV-Related Stigma in Health Care Settings: A Randomized Controlled Trial in China

The objective of the intervention was to reduce service providers' stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors toward people living with HIV. The randomized controlled trial was conducted in 40 county-level hospitals in 2 provinces of China between October 2008 and February 2010. Forty-four service providers were randomly selected from each hospital, yielding a total of 1760 study participants. We randomized the hospitals to either an intervention condition or a control condition. In the intervention hospitals, about 15% of the popular opinion leaders were identified and trained to disseminate stigma reduction messages. We observed significant improvements for the intervention group in reducing prejudicial attitudes (P < .001), reducing avoidance intent towards people living with HIV (P < .001), and increasing institutional support in the hospitals (P = .003) at 6 months after controlling for service providers' background factors and clinic-level characteristics. The intervention effects were sustained and strengthened at 12 months. The intervention reduced stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors among service providers. It has the potential to be integrated into the health care systems in China and other countries.

Toward Identifying a Broader Range of Social Cognitive Determinants of Dietary Intentions and Behaviors

Measurement of social cognitive variables is often restricted to long-term and health-related outcomes. A more comprehensive measurement of cognitive determinants would enable evidence-based design of health behavior interventions with a focus on the most relevant targets. The purpose of this study was to examine the relative impact of different social cognitive determinants on fruit and vegetable (FV) and fast food consumption. Finnish male conscripts (N = 855, age M = 20) filled in questionnaires on social cognitive factors when entering the military service, and on food consumption frequency after two months. The data were analysed using structural equation modeling. Physical well-being expectation and bad taste expectation were most strongly related to both FV and fat avoidance intentions. Perceived weight gain risk predicted fat avoidance intention, whereas perceived risk for other health problems predicted FV intention. Social self-efficacy was associated with FV intention only. Consumption of both FV and fast food was predicted by action planning and intention. A more careful evaluation of subtypes of social cognitions sheds light on the specific content behind motivation. Such understanding might help in designing more effective intervention messages.

A test of relationship avoidance using logistic regression: Comparison of open and individual online markets

Are twelve factors of relationship hindrance proposed by Novel and Phillips (2004) still valid? We address this question by first testing the differential effect of these factors on online relationship avoidance. We used two different markets; open and individual markets, to test our hypotheses. The results from our logistic regression model indicate that; first, twelve factors of online relationship avoidance are partially different between two markets. Second, male group is more likely to show negative avoidance intention compared to females in the relational avoidance context of open market. Third, four factors do not influence online relationship avoidance intentions: mental, initiation, accumulation, and travel. The final relevant finding pertains to the similarities and differences between male and female groups. While hollow factor plays an important role in reducing relationship avoidance for male group, in contrast, ambush factor plays a key role in facilitating relationship avoidance for female group. Key words: Online relationship avoidance, open market, individual market, gender difference.

Online relationship avoidance over time

Although several researchers have examined the factors that prompt consumers to form a relationship with a firm or brand, this study looks at the factors that prompt consumers to deliberately avoid a relationship. The current study examines online relationship avoidance intentions in the online travel industry. The study focuses on attribute-level evaluations (e.g. high system requirement, low safety, and low benefit), develops a theoretical framework for conceptualizing relationship-hindering perceptions with temporal effects, and empirically tests it using longitudinal data. Results show that the relationship between attribute-level evaluations and relationship-hindering perceptions is dynamic and changes over time. Further, the findings reveal significant temporal effects of relationship-hindering perceptions and non-relationship intentions at time points T and T + 1. This study presents compelling possibilities in terms of strategically managing the e-Travel sites, such that the relationship-hindering perceptions of repeat visitors to the website can be reduced thus affecting relationship avoidance intentions which would in the long run enhance customer lifetime value for the company.

Understanding the Influence of Cues from Other Customers in the Service Experience: A Scale Development and Validation

During most consumer exchanges, particularly in service and retailing settings, customers are “in the factory” and, as a result, the presence of other customers can have a profound impact on customer experiences. Despite studies demonstrating the importance of managing the customer experience and customer portfolios, the marketing literature lacks a comprehensive scale that can be used to assess individuals’ perceptions of other customers during commercial transactions. This study conceptualizes a three-dimension, Other Customer Perception (OCP) scale to address this gap. Using a seven-step scale development process, the multi-dimensional conceptualization is supported and validated and the research demonstrates the impact of the OCP dimensions on consumers’ approach and avoidance intentions. The findings provide a clearer understanding of how other customers can indirectly influence assessments of a customer exchange and can assist in the measurement of other customer perceptions in future research efforts.

Apgyvendinimo įstaigų marketingo komunikacija Lietuvos vartotojams kultūros ypatumų kontekste

Nowadays travelling becomes available for almost everyone. Such situation forces travel agencies, accommodation enterprises, and other tourism organizations to pay greater attention on marketing communication. Trying to attract consumer’s attention, companies have to show their advantages, which should be most important to targets. Considering that tourism market is not limited by any country borders, it becomes even more important to understand the peculiarities of other countries in terms of attitudes, values, believes. Moreover, to be successful, tourism organizations have to adapt their marketing communication to these concrete cultural aspects. While analyzing cultural aspects of a particular country, G. Hofstede’s model of cultural dimensions could be found as one of the most adaptable. The model is composed of five cultural dimensions: power distance, long-term orientation, individualism / collectivism, masculinity / femininity, uncertainty avoidance intention. The expression of these dimensions can highlight the peculiarities of some particular culture, which can be crucial for understanding organizations marketing communication. Accordingly, the object of the article is marketing communication for Lithuanian consumers in a context of cultural peculiarities. The aim of the article is to determine how accommodation enterprises should implement their marketing communication to meet cultural peculiarities of Lithuanian consumers. While achieving the aim of the article, qualitative content analysis of scientific literature was provided to establish theoretical background for the research; subsequently, questionnaire research was provided on purpose to establish cultural framework of Lithuanian consumers and their priorities while choosing a tourism service. [...]

A Comparison of Online Relationship Avoidance Intentions using Logistic Regression

A Comparison of Online Relationship Avoidance Intentions using Logistic Regression

The atmospheric factors of online storefront environment design: An empirical experiment in Taiwan

The purpose of our study was to identify the effect of atmospheric factors such as music and color on participants’ emotional responses and subsequent shopping behavior in an online store setting. In this study, a laboratory experiment was conducted to test our hypotheses. The experiment was a 2 (music: fast/slow) × 2 (color: warm/cool) between-subjects factorial design with one control group. The results indicated that both music and color factors had a significant effect on participants’ emotional response, which in turn influenced their intention to purchase. Specifically, participants felt more aroused and experienced greater pleasure when they were exposed to fast-tempo music and a warm color website than those people who experienced slow-tempo music and cool colors. In addition, both pleasure and arousal emotions were significant predictors of approach–avoidance intention. We expected that a well-designed website with adequate music and color attributes would create a desired environment and thus entice and retain target customers. Our findings should help in deciding on ambient factors in online website design. Although studies on atmospheric effects in traditional stores have been abundant, knowledge of their effect in the online retail context has been sparse.

The role of sympathy on avoidance intention toward persons living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

As the number of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) continues to increase in Jamaica, concerns of attitudes become more important. As such, the objective of the present study is to examine the attitudes of university students in Jamaica toward PLWHA including sympathy and avoidance intentions. A large sample of university students (N=1,252) was surveyed between June 2001 and February 2002 using a 193-item questionnaire that measured HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Results revealed that less than half of the students reported sympathetic attitudes toward homosexual males or female prostitutes living with HIV/AIDS (41% and 44%, respectively) while the majority reported sympathetic attitudes toward heterosexual males and non-prostitute females living with the disease (67% and 81%, respectively). Most students (80%) reported no avoidance intentions toward family members or friends living with the disease. Sympathy, HIV knowledge, education and awareness were associated with no avoidance intention of HIV-positive family members and friends. These findings suggest that sympathy could be important in improving prosocial intentions toward PLWHA and warrants further research.

Perceived Achievement Goal Structure and College Student Help Seeking.

Two studies examined associations between college students' help seeking and perceptions of their classes' achievement goal structure. Study 1 established that students' help seeking (N = 883 in 6 chemistry classes) could be parsimoniously described by distinct approach (intentions to seek autonomous help from teachers) and avoidance patterns (threat, avoidance intentions, seeking expedient help). In Study 2, after controlling for students' personal achievement goal orientations (N = 852 in 13 psychology classes), within-class differences in perceived class emphasis on mastery positively predicted help-seeking approach and negatively predicted help-seeking avoidance patterns, whereas perceived class emphasis on performance-avoid goals positively predicted help-seeking avoidance. Students in classes with greater perceived emphasis on performance-avoid goals had higher levels of help-seeking avoidance patterns. Results complement previous research on help seeking and achievement goals with younger learners and provide support for the role of classroom achievement goal structure in student motivation and performance.

Predicting AIDS Patient Care Intentions Among Nursing Students

Predictors of intentions to care for AIDS patients were examined among 153 sophomore and senior nursing students. Multiple regression analysis revealed that students who had relatively less AIDS knowledge and who perceived greater occupational risk of HIV infection expressed stronger intentions to avoid caring for AIDS patients. However, avoidance intentions were not simply a function of concern about personal health and inadequate knowledge. Students who held more negative attitudes toward intravenous drug users also had stronger intentions to avoid caring for AIDS patients, even when the effects of AIDS knowledge and perceived occupational risk of HIV infection were controlled. AIDS content is incorporated in the nursing curriculum for these students beginning in the junior year. Multivariate analysis of variance performed to determine the effects of this content revealed a significant effect for year in school considering all the dependent variables simultaneously. Seniors had lower avoidance intentions, lower perceived occupational risk, and greater AIDS knowledge than did sophomores.