The purpose of this study is to build a theoretical framework to account for how social media lead college students to smoke. Arguing critical concepts, such as valence of communication, impression management, perceived risks and benefits, this study develops the O 1 -S-R 1 -O 2 -R 2 model. For this, we test a separated model for smokers and nonsmokers. For smokers, the effect of exposure to pro-smoking content on smoking behavior is mediated by an impression of smokers, a favorable expression about smoking, and perceived benefits. And, the effect of exposure to anti-smoking content on smoking behavior is mediated by an unfavorable expression about smoking and perceived risks. However, such mediation processes cannot be observed for nonsmokers; namely, the effect of exposure to pro-smoking content on smoking intention is only mediated by a favorable expression about smoking. Considering the separated path models for smokers and nonsmokers, theoretical and practical implications are suggested for future study. Methodological limitations are discussed as well.

The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games held in South Korea drew much political attention due to its potential to resolve the ongoing political and military tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula. Given the divisive South Korean public discourse on warming ties with the North, this study uses framing theory to compare the frames employed by two partisan South Korean newspapers to cover the mega sporting event. Our analyses reveal significant framing differences between conservative and liberal sources, suggesting their potential effect on citizen attitudes and beliefs about the role of the Olympics. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.

Recent scholarship has shown the importance of political conservatism, perceived (in)security, and communication channels (i.e. mass media) in increased or decreased tolerance toward certain groups. This study advances our knowledge in this area by integrating the importance of media exposure, interpersonal communication and attitudes toward political elites in shaping tolerance levels toward the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC, after the initials in Spanish). For this, the authors analyze national survey data collected in Colombia and carry out a path analysis to explore the formation of political (in)tolerance toward FARC. Results from exploring tolerance toward FARC, a rebel group transitioning from a military force to a political one, show the importance of interpersonal discussion and attitudes toward political elites in fostering tolerance both directly and indirectly via increased preference for a peace negotiation over a military solution. The implications of these findings are discussed.

환경문제에 대한 관심도가 증가하면서 전 세계적으로 친환경 자동차 개발과 더불어 탄소배출을 최소화도록 하는 움직임이 가속화되고 있다. 완성차 제조사들은 환경문제와 연비문제를 동시에 해결하기 위해 기술 투자에 막대한 재정적 투입을 늘리고 있다. 이러한 현실을 반영하듯 소비자들의 자동차 선택과정에서 환경보호 정도를 중요한 구매결정요인으로 고려하고 있다. 자동차 제조사들의 광고마케팅 전략 방향 또한 환경과 연비를 강조하는 경향이 강화되고 있는 실정이다. 하지만 미쓰비시와 폭스바겐과 같은 유명 글로벌 자동차 제조사들의 조작사건은 해당 기업뿐만 아니라 자동차 산업 전반에 걸쳐 소비자들의 신뢰는 깨지게 되었다. 이러한 일련의 사건을 통해, 본 연구는 동종업계 기업 관련 부정적 뉴스를 통한 소비자의 부정적 경험이 소비자의 조절초점성향에 따라 어떻게 다르게 형성되고 이에 따른 경쟁사의 광고메시지에 대한 소비자의 반응을 어떻게 다르게 하는지 이론적으로 검증할 필요가 있다고 보았다. 이를 위해 본 연구는 조절초점이론과 점화효과이론을 바탕으로 삼원요인실험을 설계하였다. 분석결과, 미쓰비시 연비조작사건기사에 노출된 촉진성향 소비자는 예방성향 소비자보다 광고 제품에 대한 부정적 태도가 더 높게 나타났다. 또한, 부정적 기사 내용 유형, 소비의 조절초점성향, 그리고 광고메시지 유형 의 조절초점 일치 여부에 따라 촉진성향 소비자와 예방성향 소비자의 제품태도 및 구매의도에 유의미한 차이가 있음을 발견하였다.

Our knowledge is not enough to clearly explain how consumers respond to unethical firms, thereby forming attitudes toward unethical firms’ brand and buying their products. In this sense, we conduct a one-way experimental design to test regulatory focus theory when it comes to attitudes toward unethical firms’ brand and the purchase intention. Our findings reveal that promotion-oriented participants were more negative toward Mitsubishi, which violates achievement (e.g. fuel efficiency), than prevention-oriented participants. More importantly, promotion-oriented people were less likely to buy Mitsubishi automobiles than prevention-oriented people. In contrast, prevention-oriented consumers are negative toward Volkswagen which violates protection (e.g. carbon dioxide emission reduction).

In accordance with self-categorization theory, this study predicts that because elite cues affect partisans' perceptions of group norms, news coverage of political gridlock should influence partisans' willingness to endorse compromise. Results of two experimental studies, where Republican and Democratic samples read a news story in which group leaders were either willing or unwilling to compromise, largely support our expectations. However, we also find evidence that willingness to compromise can depend on the specific issue context, as well as pre-existing attitudes. These results further our understanding of how media coverage affects the functioning of democracy in the United States.

In recent years, the spread of mobile communication devices such as smartphones has been markedly rapid. With this technological diffusion, mobile health (mHealth) has become an increasingly important issue. In particular, there is an increasing interest in smartphone apps improving public health. Although there is increased availability of mobile devices and health apps, little is known about motivational factors predicting health app adoption and use. The aim of this study was to identify motivational factors that predict the adoption and use of health apps (i.e. health app engagement). To identify the motivational factors, 391 college students were surveyed and survey questions considered the effects of media exposure to health information, interpersonal communication on health issues, and psychological factors (e.g. attitude, usefulness, peer norm, and self-efficacy) on health app engagement. Our results confirm the effect of attitude (β = 0.36) and usefulness are (β = 0.33) on mHealth App usage. Furthermore, we found that age (β = 0.11) and reading news articles about health (β = 0.13) predict mHealth App usage. Theoretical and practical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.