This study examined the mechanisms through which responsibility frames and stigmatizing headlines influence support for governmental policies to address the pandemic. Based on a factorial design experiment, we examined the effects of 2 responsibility frames (individual vs. societal responsibility) and 4 headline types (non-stigmatized vs. name-stigmatized vs. characteristic-stigmatized vs. both-stigmatized). The results showed that the individual responsibility frame increased individual attribution of responsibility for the cause and spread of COVID-19 whereas reducing societal attribution of responsibility, compared to the societal responsibility frame. The headline that detailed both the stigmatized characteristic and name increased individual attribution of responsibility compared to the non-stigmatized headline. Furthermore, the effects of frames and headline types on policy support were sequentially mediated by attribution of responsibility and emotions. Individual attribution of responsibility led to anger whereas societal attribution of responsibility led to sympathy. Subsequently, anger increased support for punitive policies while sympathy increased support for assistive policies. This study contributes to the literature on news framing of pandemics by integrating cognitive and emotional mechanisms in forming policy attitudes.

K-pop idols meticulously manage their public image on social media by blending aspects of professional and personal self-presentation, occasionally incorporating paid advertisements. This research aims to investigate these strategies on idols’ personal Instagram accounts and their impacts on fans. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, a content analysis of the ten most recent Instagram posts from 26 K-pop idols revealed a combination of both self-presentation types with a slightly higher prevalence of personal one. One-fourth of the posts contained paid advertisements, and they were more prevalent in professional self-presentation. Posts featuring personal self-presentation garnered significantly more likes and comments, and so did posts without paid advertisements. Study 2, an online experiment with 240 Korean Instagram users, compared professional and personal self-presentation with and without paid advertisement. The results showed that paid advertisement significantly influenced perceptions of the idol, diminishing perceived authenticity, professionalism, and para-social relationship. In contrast, professional self-presentation heightened only perceived professionalism compared to personal self-presentation. Engagement intentions did not significantly differ between self-presentation types but were lowered by paid advertisement indirectly through reduced perceived para-social relationship. This research highlights the complex dynamics of online self-presentation, fan engagement, and the potential drawbacks of commercialization in K-pop.

Health-related misinformation diffused online is largely comprised of threat-and efficacy-related information but potential differences in the way they are diffused have not been examined extensively. This research examined if and how threat-related COVID-19 misinformation is diffused more actively than the ones concerning the efficacy of protective actions. Further, it explored the mechanisms underlying the diffusion of threat-and efficacy-related misinformation by testing the mediating capacities of the three key drivers of information diffusion- novelty, emotional arousal, and message credibility. Results of multilevel analyses of online survey data (N = 1,012) employing a national quota sample in South Korea showed that threat-related misinformation was diffused more than efficacy-related misinformation. Furthermore, multilevel path models specifying the three key drivers as mediators indicated that the effects of threat-related misinformation on social sharing were explained by greater perceptions of novelty and emotional arousal. Message credibility, however, mediated the effects on sharing intention for those who have not been exposed to a given misinformation but not actual sharing behavior upon exposure, suggesting that the latter may be influenced more by arousal-based responses (e.g., emotional arousal) than sound reasoning (e.g., message credibility). Implications on interventions aiming at curbing health misin-formation diffusion are discussed.

Given the amount of misinformation being circulated on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential threat to public health, it is imperative to investigate ways to hinder its transmission. To this end, this study aimed to identify message features that may contribute to misinformation sharing on social media. Based on the theory of social sharing of emotion and the extant research on message credibility, this study examined if emotions and message credibility serve as mechanisms through which novelty and efficacy of misinformation influence sharing intention. An online experiment concerning COVID-19 misinformation was conducted by employing a 2 (novelty conditions: high vs. low) × 2 (efficacy conditions: high vs. low) between-subjects design using a national quota sample in South Korea (N = 1,012). The findings suggested that, contrary to the expectation, the overall effects of novelty on sharing intention were negative. The specific mechanisms played significant and unique roles in different directions: novelty increased sharing intention by evoking surprise, while also exerting a negative influence on sharing intention through an increase in negative emotions and a decrease in positive emotions and message credibility. Consistent with the expectation, efficacy exhibited positive total effects on sharing intention, which was explained by higher levels of (self- and response-) efficacy of protective action increasing positive emotions and message credibility but decreasing negative emotions. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

위험가능성 인식과 예방행동에 관한 기존 연구는 절대 위험 인식과 비교 위험 인식, 그리고 조건적 위험인식과 무조건적 위험 인식을 혼재하여 사용하고 있다. 본 연구는 위험가능성 인식의 각 유형과 예방행동 사이의 관계를 논리적으로 규명하고 위험가능성 인식의 효과 검증 방식을 비판적으로 검토하였다. 어떤 유형의 위험가능성 인식이 감염병 예방행동을 예측하기에 가장 적합한지 규명하기 위해 코로나19에 대한 설문조사를 실시하였다(N = 445). 본 연구는 첫째, 여러 위험가능성 인식 유형 중 조건적 절대 위험 인식이 코로나19 예방행동 실천정도를 가장 잘 예측함을 발견하였다. 조건적 절대 위험 인식은 무조건적 절대 위험 인식, 직접 비교 위험 인식, 간접 비교 위험 인식에 비해 예방행동 실천과 가장 높은 상관관계를 보였고 예방행동에 대한 예측력이 가장 높았다. 둘째, 조건적 절대 위험 인식이 예방행동 실천 정도를 감소시킴으로써 미래의 위험 인식 즉 무조건적 절대 위험 인식을 감소시킴을 발견하였다. 이러한 발견점들은 위험가능성 인식을 정확하게 측정하고 예방행동에 대한 예측력을 높이기 위해서는 조건적 절대 위험 인식을 사용해야 함을 시사한다.

본 연구는 코로나19 팬데믹 기간에 결혼생활 변화에 대응하기 위한 부부간 소통과 관계 변화를 분석하였다. 이를 위해 관계 난기류 이론(relational turbulence theory) 을 이론적 틀로 사용해서 코로나19가 초래한 관계 과도기에 부부 관계의 불확실성(자 기·배우자·관계 불확실성) 및 배우자의 영향(방해·도움)이 부부간 소통에 어떠한 영 향을 미치는지, 그리고 부부간 소통이 관계 난기류에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 연구하였 다. 전국의 기혼 성인남녀 1,007명을 대상으로 온라인 설문조사를 수행한 결과, 자기 불 확실성은 관계 불확실성에 정적 영향을, 부부간 소통에는 부적 영향을 미쳤다. 배우자 불확실성 역시 관계 불확실성에 정적 효과를 미쳤다. 배우자의 영향 중 도움은 부부간 소통을 증가시키는 효과가 있었으나 방해의 효과는 발견되지 않았다. 부부간 소통은 관 계 난기류에 부적 영향을 미쳤으며, 자기 불확실성과 배우자의 도움이 관계 난기류에 미치는 영향은 직접효과와 부부간 소통에 의해 매개되는 간접효과 모두 나타났다. 본 연구는 관계 난기류 이론을 코로나19 기간 국내 부부 관계에 적용하여 검증한 이론적 의의와 함께, 장기간 지속된 감염병 위기에 대응할 소통 중심의 실천적 방안을 도출하는 함의가 있다.

본 연구는 코로나19에 대한 대응이 국가별로 다르게 진행되고 있다는 점을 바탕으로, 코로나19 뉴스의 국내외 위기대응 책임 프레임이 사람들의 태도 및 정책 지지에 미치는 영향을 탐구하였다. 구체적으로 자국(한국)의 위기대응 책임 프레임 2(자국 고양 국민 vs. 자국 고양 정부), 타국의 위기대응 책임 프레임2(타국 비판 국민 vs. 타국 비판 정부)로 구분해 이 기사들이 집단 나르시시즘에 미치는 영향을 검증했으며, 이와 함께 코로나19 대응 기사가 처벌 정책 지지에 영향을 미치는 과정에 집단 나르시시즘이 매개효과를 보이는지 탐구하였다. 연구문제를 검증하기 위해 실험설계를 구성하였다. 실험 참여자(N=400)를 네 개 집단으로 나누었으며, 참여자들은 ‘자국 고양 국민 프레임 × 타국 비판 국민 프레임’, ‘자국 고양 국민 프레임 × 타국 비판 정부 프레임’, ‘자국 고양 정부 프레임 × 타국 비판 국민 프레임’, ‘자국 고양 정부프레임 × 타국 비판 정부 프레임’ 등 조건별 실험 자극물을 본 후 주요 변인에 응답했다. 분석결과, 집단나르시시즘에 대해 자국의 위기대응 책임 프레임과 타국의 위기대응 책임 프레임의 주효과는 유의미하지 않았으며 이들 프레임 간 상호작용 효과는 유의미하였다. 구체적으로 타국 비판 국민 조건에서 자국 고양정부 프레임의 집단 나르시시즘 평균이 자국 고양 국민 프레임의 평균보다 유의미하게 높았다. 그리고 코로나19 국내외 위기대응 책임 프레임이 처벌 정책 지지에 영향을 미치는 과정을 검증한 결과, 책임 프레임은 처벌 정책 지지에 직접적으로 유의미한 영향을 미치지 않았다. 그러나 코로나19 책임 프레임은 집단 나르시시즘을 매개로 처벌 정책 지지에 유의미한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 구체적으로 타국 비판국민 조건에서 자국 고양 정부 프레임은 집단 나르시시즘을 유의미하게 증가시켰으며, 이 과정을 통해 유발된 집단 나르시시즘은 타국민에 대한 처벌 정책 지지에 정적(+)으로 유의미한 영향을 미쳤다. 이러한 분석결과를 토대로 본 연구는 코로나19 대응 관련 뉴스에 대한 실무적 방향성을 제시하였다.

This research presents findings from two studies that examine portrayal of threat, efficacy, and uncertainty in cancer news stories, and investigate the effects of variations in a combination of news content on perceived risk, perceived efficacy, and behavioral intentions. Study 1 analyzed the content of cancer news, using a representative sample (N = 1,438) of television, newspapers, and other news media in South Korea over a five-year period. Study 2 examined the effects of exposure to a cancer news story, conducting an experiment with Korean adults (N = 717). Study 1 demonstrated that threat was more prevalent than efficacy in cancer news coverage. Uncertainty information was much less frequent, and when included, it was more about threat uncertainty than efficacy uncertainty. Study 2 showed that a high threat, high efficacy story led to higher levels of perceived efficacy and intention for preventive behaviors than did a low threat, low efficacy story. However, adding efficacy-related uncertainty nullified the beneficial effects of the high threat, high efficacy information whereas the impact of threat-related uncertainty was not significant. The theoretical and practical implications based on the results are further discussed.

BACKGROUND:Despite a growing need for designing and monitoring health information sites through comprehensive examination of the various elements of website quality, there is little research that systematically models and presents such examinations. OBJECTIVES:Applying the updated DeLone and McLean Model of Information Systems Success, this research aimed to examine how health information sites' information quality, system quality, and service quality lead to user satisfaction and perceived benefits. METHODS:This research was conducted in a specific context of the National Health Information Portal (NHIP), a governmental health information site in South Korea. We conducted online survey in 2017, with 506 adults from the NHIP consumer panel. Data were analyzed using a confirmatory factor analysis, hierarchical ordinary least squares regression, and bootstrapping approach for a mediation test. RESULTS:Of the three quality factors, information quality had significant associations with all outcome variables: user satisfaction, intention to reuse the site, and perceived benefits of site use in health settings. There were also indirect paths from information quality to perceived benefits, one mediated through intention and the other mediated through satisfaction and then intention. Service quality had a significant association with user satisfaction, and its impact on perceived benefits occurred indirectly through user satisfaction and intention in serial. By contrast, the role of system quality received no empirical support. IMPLICATIONS:The results offer theoretical and practical implications for how to enhance the effectiveness of online health information sites.

본 연구는 미세먼지와 관련하여 핵심정보 중심의 직관적 메시지가 일반 공중의 메시지 수용 및 위험 인식, 자기효능감, 대처행동 의도에 미치는 영향을 분석하고, 나아가 개인의 직관적·분석적 인지양식과 상호작용 효과를 가지는지 탐색하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 핵심요지 직접 제시 유무 집단과 세부정보에 대한 질적 해석 유무 집단의 2×2 집단 간 요인설계로 온라인 실험을 수행하였다. 연구 결과, 핵심정보 중심의 메시지 구성은 메시지 내용 기억과 이해에 유의미한 정적 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 반면 위험 인식에는 부적 영향을 미쳤으며, 자기효능감, 예방행동 의도, 정보추구 의도에 미치는 영향은 유의미하지 않았다. 한편, 메시지 효과와 개인의 인지양식과의 상호작용은 직관적 인지양식에 한해서 나타났는데, 핵심정보 중심 메시지를 읽은 후 직관적 인지양식이 강한 사람들일수록 위험 인식과 정보추구 의도가 높아졌다. 본 연구의 결과는 미세먼지에 대한 불안이 높은 국내 환경에서 효과적인 미세먼지 위험 메시지 전략을 수립하는 데 유용한 이론적·실무적인 방향을 제시해줄 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

For a deeper understanding of the dynamics of food risk perception, we examined the role of perceived outrage factors in guiding risk perception. Their interactions with risk attitude and media use were investigated as well. A nationwide survey (N = 1000) was conducted on five outrage factors (familiarity, trust, catastrophic potential, effects on children, and dread) with respect to four types of food risk (Benzopyrene in noodle soup, Norovirus in school cafeteria food, Misuse of plastic coffee bags, and Salmonella in infant food) in South Korea. The results confirmed that perceived outrage factors were overall positively associated with risk perception. Trust, catastrophic potential, and dread were associated with heightened risk perception regarding all of the four types of food risk. Familiarity and effect on children were also connected to a higher risk perception in two out of the four types of food risk. In addition, these outrage effects were partially moderated by risk attitude. Risk aversion attitudes weakened the association between perceived outrage factors (trust and catastrophic potential) and risk perception in three out of the four types of risk. The implication of the main outrage effect and its interaction with risk attitude was discussed in light of risk management.

Objectives: Building upon from the Fuzzy Trace Theory, this study aimed to examine the effects of gist-based health messages on message reception and behavioral intention. Methods: We conducted online experiments employing 2 by 2 between-subject design with 451 adults in 20s in the context of sugar overconsumption. We performed analysis of variance and multiple regressions to test the effects of message features on participants’ message recall and interpretation, risk perception, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention, as well as their interaction effects with participants’ thinking style. Results: Overall, exposure to gist-based messages was likely to increase message recall and interpretation. There were some noteworthy interaction effects between message exposure and participants’ thinking style on outcome variables. Conclusions: These findings suggest that more efforts be made to develop effective gist-based health messages and invite further research for empirical evidence.

본 연구의 목적은 건강·의료 뉴스 생산과정에서 중요한 역할을 하는 의학전문기자들이 1) 의사이자 기자라는 이중적 직업 정체성을 어떻게 구축하고 있는지, 2) 뉴스 생산과정 전반에서 업무 자율성을 어떻게 인식하고 있는지를 심층 인터뷰를 통해 살펴보는 것이다. 이를 위해 한국 내 주요 언론사의 의학전문기자 10명을 선별하여 인터뷰했다. 의학전문기자에는 의사출신과 비 의사출신 의학전문기자들을 포함시켰다. 비 의사출신 의학전문기자들을 비교군으로 활용해 분석의 타당성을 높이고자 했다. 본 연구에서 가장 주목할 결과는 의학전문기자들이 이중적 직업 정체성을 전략적으로 사용하고 있으며, 그러한 전략적 사용이 그들의 업무 자율성을 확장한다는 것이다. 전문기자에 대한 실증적 자료를 기반으로 한국 언론사 내에서의 효율적인 전문기자제도 활용방안에 대해 논의하였다.

This study aimed to examine the motives, topics and antecedents for sharing health information online among Korean Internet users. Eight hundred adults completed a web-based survey exploring the motives; topics; physical, cognitive, affective and environmental factors; and experiences relating to sharing health information online. The motives for not sharing information included information absence and inappropriateness. The most preferred topic was disease. Good subjective health was significantly associated with frequent information sharing while individuals with a history of disease involving themselves or family members were more likely to share health information than were those without such a history. Further, a higher level of depressed mood was related to a higher level of sharing. Internet-related self-efficacy and trust in information delivery channels were positively related to sharing. Future research could extend the factors related to information sharing to include the evaluation of shared information.

OBJECTIVEEmerging adulthood (EA) is an important yet overlooked period for developing long-term health behaviors. During these years, emerging adults adopt health behaviors that persist throughout life. This study applies the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP) to examine the role of childhood parental communication in predicting engagement in healthful eating during EA.METHODSParticipants included 239 college students, ages 18 to 25, from a large university in the southern United States. Participants were recruited and data collection occurred spring 2012. Participants responded to measures to assess perceived parental communication, eating behaviors, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral control over healthful eating. SEM and mediation analyses were used to address the hypotheses posited.RESULTSData demonstrated that perceived parent-child communication - specifically, its quality and target-specific content - significantly predicted emerging adults' eating behaviors, mediated through subjective norm and perceived behavioral control.CONCLUSIONThis study sets the stage for further exploration and understanding of different ways parental communication influences emerging adults' healthy behavior enactment.

This study is to investigate the ways news articles portray the locus of responsibility (LOR) for cancer causes and solutions and to identify factors associated with the different LOR frames in cancer news. This study specifically focused on health journalists' medical expertise. There were more cancer news with personal LOR frames; professional medical journalists were more likely than general journalists to write cancer stories with personal LOR frames in both cause and solution cancer news; and, however, news organizations without professional medical journalists used more personal LOR frames than those with professional medical journalists, particularly in cause-related cancer news.