TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors and Effects of Anti-Obesity Message Fatigue
T2 - A Thought-Listing Analysis
AU - So, Jiyeon
AU - Alam, Nizia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/6/7
Y1 - 2019/6/7
N2 - The prevalence of messages advocating weight management has likely resulted in considerable anti-obesity message fatigue but the phenomenon remains understudied. This study examined two aspects of antiobesity message fatigue: (1) effects of preexisting anti-obesity message fatigue on cognitive processing of an incoming anti-obesity message and (2) predictors and effects of message fatigue responses expressed after exposure to the message. Results from a two-wave online experiment involving overweight and obese adults in the U.S. (N = 251) showed that preexisting message fatigue (in wave 1) positively predicted counterarguments, while negatively predicting message-consistent and issue-relevant thoughts expressed after exposure to an anti-obesity message (in wave 2). Moreover, the experimental findings show that physical health frames generated greater message fatigue responses than mental health frames. Message fatigue responses, in turn, predicted more unfavorable attitude toward message recommendations, completely mediating the effects of physical health frames on attitude. Women and older participants were more likely to express anti-obesity message fatigue responses than their counterparts. These findings underscore the need to recognize message fatigue as a significant barrier to communicating health.
AB - The prevalence of messages advocating weight management has likely resulted in considerable anti-obesity message fatigue but the phenomenon remains understudied. This study examined two aspects of antiobesity message fatigue: (1) effects of preexisting anti-obesity message fatigue on cognitive processing of an incoming anti-obesity message and (2) predictors and effects of message fatigue responses expressed after exposure to the message. Results from a two-wave online experiment involving overweight and obese adults in the U.S. (N = 251) showed that preexisting message fatigue (in wave 1) positively predicted counterarguments, while negatively predicting message-consistent and issue-relevant thoughts expressed after exposure to an anti-obesity message (in wave 2). Moreover, the experimental findings show that physical health frames generated greater message fatigue responses than mental health frames. Message fatigue responses, in turn, predicted more unfavorable attitude toward message recommendations, completely mediating the effects of physical health frames on attitude. Women and older participants were more likely to express anti-obesity message fatigue responses than their counterparts. These findings underscore the need to recognize message fatigue as a significant barrier to communicating health.
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U2 - 10.1080/10410236.2018.1434736
DO - 10.1080/10410236.2018.1434736
M3 - Article
C2 - 29405777
AN - SCOPUS:85041618150
VL - 34
SP - 755
EP - 763
JO - Health Communication
JF - Health Communication
SN - 1041-0236
IS - 7
ER -