Sustainability attitudes and behavioral motivations of college students

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan K. Perrault ◽  
Scott K. Clark
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Fear Appeal ◽  
Extended Parallel Process Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Messages ◽  
Key Barrier

Purpose A planet that can no longer sustain life is a frightening thought – and one that is often present in mass media messages. Therefore, this study aims to test the components of a classic fear appeal theory, the extended parallel process model (EPPM) and to determine how well its constructs predict sustainability behavioral intentions. This study also strove to uncover students’ motivations and attitudes that are not present in the EPPM. Design/methodology/approach An online survey of 779 college students was conducted. Findings Results reveal that both threat and efficacy are significant predictors of behavioral intention, consistent with the EPPM. However, an analysis of open-ended comments reveals that subjective normative influence and incentives also play a key role in students performing future sustainable behaviors. Practical implications These findings provide a framework to educators and message designers of sustainability groups on college campuses highlighting the importance of including multiple constructs in their messages to students. Threatening messages will not be enough to increase behavioral intentions. Fear inducing messages must be combined with messages to increase self- and response efficacy. Education is also not the only piece of the puzzle. Students state difficulty in performing some sustainable behaviors as a key barrier, indicating a need to incorporate infrastructure changes at campuses to facilitate greater ease among students to act sustainably. Originality value This study tests the EPPM’s utility in helping to find the most effective ways to influence college students’ future behavioral intentions toward acting sustainably.

scholarly journals The Effects of Fear Appeals and Message Format on Promoting Skin Cancer Prevention Behaviors among College Students

Societies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Cui Zhang Meadows
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Fear Appeals ◽  
Skin Cancer Prevention ◽  
Fear Appeal ◽  
Extended Parallel Process Model ◽  
Message Format

This study tested the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) by examining how fear mediated the effects of threat on individuals’ assessment of risk, which was neglected in many fear appeal studies. Second, this study treated efficacy as an existing perception, and explored the effects of varying levels of threat and efficacy on individuals’ behavioral intention. Furthermore, this study examined whether message format, such as narratives, played a role on individuals’ behavioral intention. Implications for the EPPM and health message development were discussed.

scholarly journals Fear vs humor appeals: a comparative study of children's responses to anti-smoking advertisements

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Nicolini ◽  
Fabio Cassia
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Fear Appeal ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Youth Smoking ◽  
Lifestyle Habits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to examine the different effects that the fear and humor appeals in anti-smoking advertisements for children have on their affective reactions to the advertisements, on their beliefs about smoking and on their behavioral intentions to smoke.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents the findings of a qualitative research study conducted in Italy with children aged from 8 to 11 years.FindingsThe results indicated that the humor appeal is a useful method for conveying a social theme in a pleasant way and creating a likable character that becomes an example for children to imitate; however, it is necessary to employ the fear appeal to make children reflect carefully about the negative consequences of smoking.Research limitations/implicationsThis study examined only children's behavioral intentions derived from anti-smoking advertisements, but future research should also examine their real behaviors after a period following repeated viewing of public service announcements about smoking prevention or other social issues.Practical implicationsUnderstanding how different types of appeals can influence children represents an important result for the prevention of youth smoking and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits during childhood.Social implicationsUnderstanding how different types of appeals can influence children represents an important result for the prevention of youth smoking and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits during childhood.Originality/valueFew studies have examined the impact of social advertisements on children, and particularly little is known about the effectiveness of fear appeals on this group.

scholarly journals Self- versus other-directed outcomes, Machiavellianism, and hypothetical distance in COVID-19 antipandemic messages

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Yidan Huang ◽  
Shu Yang ◽  
JiaMin Dai
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Fear Appeal ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Public Health Information ◽  
Effective Development ◽  
Health Intentions

Public health information with a fear appeal is often used to promote people's positive health intentions. Anchored by the extended parallel process model and trait activation theory, in this study we examined the effects of self- versus other-directed outcomes, Machiavellianism, and hypothetical distance on the effectiveness of fear-appeal information in the context of COVID-19. In an online survey of 303 people in Wuhan, China, we found that respondents high in Machiavellianism reported stronger antipandemic intentions in response to a self-directed compared to an other-directed outcome message. This effect was actualized through the trait of Machiavellianism, moderated by hypothetical distance, and mediated by perceived severity. Our findings have implications for the effective development and delivery of public health information for specific groups, and for encouraging more detailed exploration of personality in relation to epidemiology.

Social norms for sexual violence perpetration in college

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Louise Hackman ◽  
Tricia Witte ◽  
Marissa Greenband
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Social Norms

Purpose Sexual violence (SV) is a pervasive public health issue on college campuses. While much research has been conducted to determine factors contributing to SV, little work focuses on the role of perceived social norms. The purpose of this paper is to examine college students’ perceived descriptive norms for SV perpetration (i.e. prevalence estimates for SV). Design/methodology/approach Using a cross-sectional survey, male and female college students from a large public institution in the Southeastern USA were instructed to estimate the prevalence of SV for “typical students” of their same gender on campus. Findings When compared to actual prevalence rates of SV perpetrated by females and males, both perpetrators and non-perpetrators overestimated the prevalence of SV among same-sex peers, but perpetrators made even higher estimates compared to those made by non-perpetrators for some sexually aggressive acts. Results demonstrate strong and consistent normative misperceptions surrounding SV perpetration. Research limitations/implications Findings lend support for testing social norms-based prevention programs for SV on college campuses. Originality/value This study is one of the first investigations into perceived social norms surrounding SV; perceived social norms may be an influential factor contributing to SV.

Assessing an organizational crisis at the construal level: how psychological distance impacts publics' crisis responses

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-337
Author(s):  
Sungsu Kim ◽  
Yan Jin ◽  
Bryan H. Reber
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Organizational Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Explorative Study ◽  
Distance Model ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Crisis Responses

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to elaborate on the notion of crisis distance and to investigate its influence on publics' crisis responses (i.e. crisis severity, crisis emotions, organizational reputation and supportive behavioral intentions). In addition, this study aims to unearth the underlying mechanisms behind the effects of crisis distance.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducted an online survey by recruiting a representative US sample to examine the proposed research questions.FindingsThis paper offers empirical evidence that each dimension of crisis distance (i.e. temporal, social and hypothetical crisis distance) is associated with publics' crisis responses. Furthermore, by investigating distance-crisis-organizational sequence models, the ways in which crisis distance ultimately motivates publics' supportive behavioral intentions was revealed.Originality/valueAs an explorative study to propose a crisis distance model, the current research provides a springboard for expanding the existing scholarly literature on the nature of crisis.

Using an Interactive Online Quiz to Recalibrate College Students’ Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions About Phishing

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 1154-1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan K. Perrault
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Effective Teaching ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Teaching Tool ◽  
Spam Filtering ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Phishing Attacks ◽  
Students Attitudes

Despite improved spam filtering technology, phishing continues to be a prevalent threat for college students. The current study found that approximately 4-in-10 of the students surveyed ( N = 462) indicate they do not know what phishing is and the threat it poses. Students also report initially overestimating their confidence to successfully recognize phishing attempts, and underestimating their susceptibility to being the victim of an attack. By completing an interactive online phishing quiz, which explained what to look for in both counterfeit and legitimate email messages, students’ self-efficacy to identify phishing attempts increased, as did their perceived susceptibility to phishing attacks, their perceptions of the severity of phishing, their intentions to learn more about the topic, and their intentions to discuss phishing with others. These results indicate that a simple, interactive online phishing quiz could be used as an effective teaching tool to supplement existing educational attempts regarding phishing on college campuses.

Campus sustainability

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1042-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moonhee Cho
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Recycling Behavior

Purpose Proposing an integrated model based on multiple theoretical approaches, such as the theory of planned behavior, the model of goal-directed behavior and self-determination theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine factors influencing college students’ campus recycling intention and actual recycling behavior. Design/methodology/approach An online survey method was used to test the proposed model with college students. A total of 434 students participated in the survey. Findings This study found that self-determined motivation, attitude toward recycling, perceived behavioral control and negative anticipated emotion had direct effects on campus recycling intention, while recycling intention and self-determined motivation influenced students’ actual campus recycling behavior. Research limitations/implications The findings of the study may not be generalizable to the broader population. Respondents’ self-reported assessment of their recycling behaviors may also be a drawback of the study. However, the study provides statistical evidence testing the proposed model of campus recycling. Practical implications The study’s findings provide communication planners for university recycling and sustainability departments with communication and message strategies to enhance college students’ recycling behavior. Originality/value The study proposes a more comprehensive, tailored model that integrates other compelling theoretical models, to address college students’ sustainability engagement on campus.

Agenda-setting on traditional vs social media

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 688-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Chen ◽  
Jingyuan Shi ◽  
Yu Guo ◽  
Pianpian Wang ◽  
Yiwei Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Agenda Setting ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Semantic Network ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Quadratic Assignment ◽  
Extended Parallel Process Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People’S Daily ◽  
People's Daily

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare haze-related content between traditional and social media in China by applying agenda-setting theory and the extended parallel process model (EPPM). Specifically, this paper examines the correlation between the two forms of media in terms of the ranking of the attributes of haze (i.e. the EPPM components) and the interrelationships among the attributes. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis and semantic network analysis were employed to address the research aims. Findings The results revealed that more than half of the total messages on both types of media reflected the EPPM components, either threat or efficacy information. However, the imbalance between the threat and efficacy information was more prominent in the haze-related content presented in the People’s Daily than it was on Weibo. In addition, the results from a Spearman’s rank-order correlation and a quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) indicated that there was no significant correlation between the People’s Daily and Weibo in terms of the rankings of the attributes of haze (i.e. the EPPM components) or the interrelationships among the attributes. Originality/value This study is the first to apply a theoretical approach to examine and compare the nature of haze-related messages on traditional and social media.

Moderating effect of career planning on job support and motivational process of training transfer

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoonhee Park ◽  
Doo Hun Lim ◽  
Jaeeun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Career Planning ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Training Transfer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Job Support ◽  
Motivational Process ◽  
Motivation To Transfer

Purpose This study aims to examine the direct effects of job support and the indirect effects of individual career planning on the motivational process of training transfer, which consists of the structural relationship between learning goal orientation, learning motivation, transfer motivation and training transfer. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was administered to 255 respondents in South Korea, and 252 valid responses were used for analysis. A hypothetical model was examined using a structural equation model and multi-group analysis. Findings This study found that the synchronous process model of training transfer was well validated in the Korean context; moreover, job support promoted employee motivations that led to their training transfer. In addition, career planning was found to have a moderating role in the relationships explored in this study. That is, when the level of career planning was high, job support directly affected the motivation to transfer, and the link between intrinsic learning orientation and motivation to learn was highly activated compared to the group with a low level of career planning. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by the single-dimensional measurement of its constructs, including job support, goal orientation and motivation to transfer. This limitation should be considered when interpreting the study’s results. In terms of implications, the study suggests that organizations should help individuals identify their career interests and establish a strategy to achieve their career goals by providing information about specific areas of interest. Originality/value This study proposes that the motivational mechanisms leading to training transfer are affected by trainees’ level of career planning. In addition, the study findings emphasize the importance of organizations’ role in guiding individual employees’ career planning to facilitate performance through training transfer.

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