The Role of Risk, Efficacy, and Anxiety in Smokers' Cancer Information Seeking

Abstract

Using the risk perception attitude (RPA) framework and the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey data, this research investigated the role of perceived personal risk, perceived comparative risk, response efficacy, communication efficacy, and anxiety in smokers' active cancer information seeking. The RPA predictions on the interactions between perceived personal risk and the two efficacy measures were not supported. Perceived personal risk and response efficacy were associated with cancer information seeking both directly and through the mediation of anxiety. Optimistic comparative risk perceptions were associated with less anxiety and were found to moderate the relationship between perceived personal risk and cancer information seeking. Surprisingly, communication efficacy emerged as a negative predictor of cancer information seeking. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Information Needs, Seeking Behaviors, and Support Among Low-Income Expectant Women

“…15). Past studies have found relationships between increased health information-seeking behavior and higher self-efficacy, heightened health knowledge and proactivity, more visits to the physician, increased confidence talking with physicians, as well as decreased anxiety, fear, and stress (Lambert & Loiselle, 2007;Murray et al, 2003;Nicholson et al, 2005;Rimal, 2001;Zhao & Cai, 2009). Conversely, individuals who do not seek health information are less likely to engage in preventive behaviors (Ramanadhan & Viswanath, 2006) and tend to be individuals with lower levels of education and socioeconomic status (Murray et al, 2003;Ramanadhan & Viswanath, 2006).…”

Hepatitis B knowledge and associated factors among people with chronic hepatitis B

“…27 While anxiety can support health information seeking for some people, it can be counter-productive in others. 28,29 Providing health information for the public may result in causing or alleviating anxiety. One study assessing the impact of a health information service on consumers identified that for most, providing health information reduced anxiety about a health concern, but in 10% it increased their anxiety.…”

Cognitive and Emotional Health Risk Perceptions Among People Living in Poverty

“…The Risk Perception Attitude Framework is especially relevant to our investigation because it conceptualizes cognitive risk perceptions as a property of the individual and not as a property of the message, as in Witte's (1994) extended Parallel Processing Model. The Risk Perception Attitude Framework has also been used to predict health protective behaviors to protect against a variety of risks (Real, 2008;Rimal & Juon, 2010;Wong, 2009) as well as health related intentions Sullivan, Beckjord, Rutten, & Hesse, 2008), knowledge ) and information seeking (Real, 2008;Rimal & Juon, 2010;Turner, Rimal, Morrison, & Kim, 2006;Zhao & Cai, 2009). Most of these studies, particularly those using survey-based rather than experimental research, have provided at least some support for the model.…”

“…However, their results revealed that high-risk groups in general experienced more anxiety than did low-risk groups no matter what their efficacy levels were. Zhao and Cai (2009) took a slightly different approach and proposed that anxiety would mediate the effects of cognitive risk perception and efficacy on information seeking. Although the results of their study showed anxiety to be a weak mediator, the researchers demonstrated that anxiety was a direct predictor of information seeking, suggesting that emotions may have direct and independent effects on behavior.…”