Orientation to Uncertainty and Information Seeking about Personal Health

Pezza, Paul E.

doi:10.1080/00970050.1990.10616187

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…As this study goes to press, two other related events have occurred. First, the importance of uncertainty orientation to seeking diagnostic information has been noted by researchers in the health psychology field, such as Pezza (1988). Much like us, he suggested that uncertainty-oriented persons may be more likely to seek out health-related information than certainty-oriented persons and presented some encouraging preliminary data in support of this assumption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Much like us, he suggested that uncertainty-oriented persons may be more likely to seek out health-related information than certainty-oriented persons and presented some encouraging preliminary data in support of this assumption. Although the results are too complex to be presented here (see Pezza, 1988), uncertainty orientation was reliably related to health-seeking behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Uncertainty orientation and protection motivation theory: The role of individual differences in health compliance.

Brouwers¹,

Sorrentino²

1993

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

112

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The experiment was designed to determine the influence of uncertainty orientation (R. M. Sorrentino, J. C. Short, 1986) on compliance with a diagnostic health behavior. Ss (N= 155) read 1 version of an education essay on a disease and diagnostic response. Threat and efficacy information were manipulated. Consistent with protection motivation theory (R. W Rogers, 1983), uncertaintyoriented Ss sought more health-related information as threat and efficacy increased. Certaintyoriented Ss, however, sought more health-related information as threat or efficacy, but not both, increased. Individual differences were also found on adaptive measures and ineffective alternative responses.Since the early research applying drive reduction models to communications in health compliance (e.g., Hovland, Janis, & Kelley, 1953), researchers have grappled with the problem of identifying the precise message characteristics of a health appeal and the precise conditions that lead to the greatest compliance. Protection motivation theorists (Rogers, 1983) have attempted to provide a comprehensive framework to account for these issues. Although promising, support for this theory is not without its inconsistencies. It is the contention of this article that predictions from this theory can be more precise if one considers important individual differences in the way people are likely to process potentially threatening information. The important individual-difference variable is what Sorrentino and Short (1986) have called uncertainty orientation. Following a brief review of research related to protection motivation theory, the importance of this variable for the theory is discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Uncertainty orientation and protection motivation theory: The role of individual differences in health compliance.

Brouwers¹,

Sorrentino²

1993

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Health institutional campaigns have been prescribed on the basis of prevention “facts”, with strategies centring on information dissemination as the preferred means of influencing lifestyle choices 27. However, in Brazil as in other countries, the long-term results of these strategies have been mixed 28 29. Strategies focusing on the Internet, TV and print media have been prescribed as means to disseminate information, as well as a shortcut to inducing behavioural changes,29 as a matter of personal enlightenment that would neutralise pernicious habits 30.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%