or assume responsibility for the same. In addition, the literary works provided by DBpia may only... more or assume responsibility for the same. In addition, the literary works provided by DBpia may only be used by the users affiliated to the institutions which executed a subscription agreement with DBpia or the individual purchasers of the literary work(s)for non-commercial purposes. Therefore, any person who illegally uses the literary works provided by DBpia by means of reproduction or transmission shall assume civil and criminal responsibility according to applicable laws and regulations.
This study examines the effects of exchanging treatment information within computer-mediated brea... more This study examines the effects of exchanging treatment information within computer-mediated breast cancer support groups on emotional well-being, and explores whether this relationship is moderated by health self-efficacy. To test the hypotheses, analysis of data was ...
The purpose of this study is to build a theoretical framework to account for how social media lea... more 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 prosmoking 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.
Social media have become increasingly important in risk and crisis situations. However, little is... more Social media have become increasingly important in risk and crisis situations. However, little is known about which types of social media have greater influence on risk perceptions and behaviors. This study pursues two goals related to this question. The first is to explicate the cognitive mechanism underlying the process through which exposure to risk information on social media shapes people's behavioral intentions. The second is to determine whether exposures to risk information on two different types of social media-content-oriented social media focusing on shared interests versus user-oriented social media focusing on social relationships-have different effects on people's risk perceptions and behavioral intentions. Analyzing survey data from 688 adults from the general population of South Korea in the context of carcinogenic hazards, we found that self-reported content-oriented social media exposure (to risk information) was significantly related to both personal-level and societal-level risk perceptions. In addition, content-oriented social media exposure was associated with behavioral intentions indirectly through risk perceptions. However, user-oriented social media exposure had no impact on risk perceptions and behavioral intentions, either directly or indirectly through risk perceptions.
This study examined the effect of celebrity smoking exemplars in health news on college students&... more This study examined the effect of celebrity smoking exemplars in health news on college students' perceptions of smoking-related health risks and smoking intentions. The data were collected using a Web-based survey of 219 undergraduate students at a large midwestern university in March 2011. Separate analyses of covariance were conducted. The influence of negative exemplars of celebrity smoking on perceptions of smoking-related health risks and smoking intentions varied according to smoking status. Ever-smokers who read smoking news with negative exemplars of celebrity smoking were more likely than ever-smokers who read the same news absent any exemplar to report higher levels of perceptions of smoking-related health risks and lower levels of smoking intentions. However, these patterns were not found in never-smokers. Exemplification theory enhanced by the celebrity element may be effectively applied as a strategy to change health behavior in college students.
Given the vast amount of possibly relevant information that circulates on social media during epi... more Given the vast amount of possibly relevant information that circulates on social media during epidemics, it is imperative to examine how exposure to such information influences preventive practices. Using a communication mediation framework, this research investigates the underlying mechanisms of how exposure to COVID-19 information on social media affects the willingness to conduct COVID-19 preventive measures in South Korea. A structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis of survey data from 1,209 Korean adults showed that social media exposure indirectly influenced the intention to take preventive actions through interpersonal communication, social media expression and knowledge. The findings also revealed that social media exposure exerted differential effects on the intention to adopt preventive measures depending on the types of reasoning, including interpersonal communication and social media expression. The findings provide important implications for health communication.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may reduce or widen health inequalities. Despite the extensi... more Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may reduce or widen health inequalities. Despite the extensive literature in support of both of these contrasting views, little attention has been paid to the role of mHealth technologies with regard to social strata and health in the context of South Korea, a country with one of the highest usages of smartphones worldwide. This study examined the effects of social determinants on health self-efficacy and health status and explored how mHealth technologies moderate the impacts of social determinants on health outcomes. Data were collected via online surveys from 29 July to 3 August 2021. Survey data from 1187 Korean adults showed that men had higher levels of health self-efficacy than women. The higher an individual’s education level, the greater their subjective health status. Individuals with higher levels of monthly household income, social capital, and healthcare quality reported higher levels of health self-efficacy and superior health statu...
Analyzing data from a nationally representative online survey, this study explores the influence ... more Analyzing data from a nationally representative online survey, this study explores the influence of individuals’ media exposure, information-gathering ability, and trust in institutions on their risk perceptions and behavioral intentions to engage in social and economic activities during the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in South Korea. We find that media exposure, information-gathering ability, trust in the government, and trust in news media are significant factors in shaping the public’s risk perceptions of the virus, which in turn influenced their intentions to engage in social and economic activities. The results demonstrate that the MERS outbreak was not only a public health issue but also an economic one. The study findings have important implications for effective risk and health communication and for the roles of government and news media during future national risk events affecting public health.
YouTube has become an increasingly popular source of tourism information. The purpose of this stu... more YouTube has become an increasingly popular source of tourism information. The purpose of this study is to explore the network structures of YouTube videos about Incheon’s Chinatown in South Korea and investigate the potential factors that can predict the viewing of these videos. The analysis of 104 videos about Incheon Chinatown revealed that the engagement factors assessed by the number of comments and likes, and the running time of content, were significant predictors of viewing. However, network structure factors did not predict viewing. These findings make valuable contributions to sustainable tourism research and provide practical guidance for tourism management.
Social networking sites (SNS) are becoming one of the most significant platforms for social inter... more Social networking sites (SNS) are becoming one of the most significant platforms for social interaction and information exchange in epidemics. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about what facilitates or hinders individuals' engagement in information exchange in the event of an infectious disease outbreak. This study examined the effects of potential predictors that might be associated with the expression and reception of information on SNS during the South Korea Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak. Analysis of an online survey among 1000 adults from the general population of South Korea showed that expressing and receiving MERS-related information were predicted differentially by diverse social-demographic, socioeconomic , and psychosocial factors. Among psychosocial characteristics, risk perceptions and self-efficacy interacted with each other to predict the expression and reception of MERS-related information. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Analyzing nationally representative online panel survey data during the MERS outbreak in South Ko... more Analyzing nationally representative online panel survey data during the MERS outbreak in South Korea, this study examined the role of social media exposure in shaping public's risk perceptions of MERS. The present study also investigated the moderating role of heuristic-systematic processing and self-efficacy in the relationship between social media exposure and risk perceptions. The findings of this study showed that social media exposure was positively related to forming risk perceptions. Moreover, heuristic-systematic processing and self-efficacy were found to moderate the impact of social media on risk perceptions. The interaction effects suggested that the role of social media in increasing risk perceptions of MERS was heighted by heuristic-systematic processing and self-efficacy. The results and implications of this study are discussed in greater details.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine, in the context of online news use, the predictiv... more Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine, in the context of online news use, the predictive values of two factors: perceived bias in traditional media and preference for partisan news. Design/methodology/approach This study used data collected as part of the Pew Internet and American Life Project between December 28, 2009, and January 19, 2010. The data were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Findings The findings provide evidence of the values of two potentially significant predictors of online news use: a perception of bias in traditional media and preference for partisan news. In addition, higher levels of political partisanship were shown to intensify the positive effect of perceived bias in traditional media on online news use in new media outlets, reinforcing the impact of preference for partisan news on participatory online news use. Research limitations/implications Depending on individual decisions, the internet can either help to empower deliberative democra...
Individuals use social network sites (SNSs) as an effective tool for communicating relevant infor... more Individuals use social network sites (SNSs) as an effective tool for communicating relevant information with others during the outbreak of infectious diseases. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism through which communicative behaviors influence preventive behaviors. Thus, in the context of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in South Korea, this study investigated how two communicative behaviors (message expression and reception) in SNSs affected the communicators' intentions to engage in MERS-preventive behaviors. Using data collected from a nationally representative panel survey of 1000 Korean adults aged 19 or older, we examined a theoretical expression and reception effects model. Results support the presence of effects from expressing and receiving MERS-related information via SNSs and their underlying mechanism during South Korea's MERS outbreak. Public health officials and communication professionals should actively use SNS communication in coping with public health crisis caused by emerging infectious diseases.
Background Communication inequalities are important mechanisms linking socioeconomic backgrounds ... more Background Communication inequalities are important mechanisms linking socioeconomic backgrounds to health outcomes. Guided by the structural influence model of communication, this study examined the intermediate role of health communication in the relationship between education, income, and preventive behavioral intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and South Korea. Methods The data were collected through two online surveys conducted by two professional research firms in the US (April 1–3, 2020) and South Korea (April 9–16, 2020). To test the mediating role of health communication, as well as the hypothesized relationships in the proposed model, we performed a path analysis using Mplus 6.1. Results In analyzing survey data from 1050 American and 1175 Korean adults, we found that one’s socioeconomic positions were associated with their intentions to engage in COVID-19 preventive behaviors through affecting their health communication experiences and then effica...
This study examined how giving and receiving emotional support in a smartphone-based alcoholism s... more This study examined how giving and receiving emotional support in a smartphone-based alcoholism support group changed over time, and what factors predicted the changing patterns. Data were collected as part of a randomized clinical trial of testing a smartphone-based relapse prevention system for alcoholics. Findings suggested that giving and receiving emotional support in a smartphone-based alcoholism support group tended to decline over time. The initial value and growth rate of giving and receiving emotional support varied depending on the group participants' characteristics. These features should be considered in building strategies for the design and implementation of smartphone-based addiction support groups.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and effects of exchanging emotional suppo... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and effects of exchanging emotional support via a smartphone-based support group for patients with alcohol dependence. Of the 349 patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) criteria for alcohol dependence, 153 patients participated in the discussion group within the Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System, a smartphone application aimed at reducing relapse. This was developed to prevent problem drinking by offering individuals in recovery for alcohol dependence automated 24/7 recovery support services and frequent assessment of their symptom status as part of their addiction care. The results showed that receiving emotional support from health care providers improved coping self-efficacy. Giving emotional support and receiving emotional support from health care providers acted as a buffer, protecting patients from the harmful effects of emotional distress on risky drin...
or assume responsibility for the same. In addition, the literary works provided by DBpia may only... more or assume responsibility for the same. In addition, the literary works provided by DBpia may only be used by the users affiliated to the institutions which executed a subscription agreement with DBpia or the individual purchasers of the literary work(s)for non-commercial purposes. Therefore, any person who illegally uses the literary works provided by DBpia by means of reproduction or transmission shall assume civil and criminal responsibility according to applicable laws and regulations.
This study examines the effects of exchanging treatment information within computer-mediated brea... more This study examines the effects of exchanging treatment information within computer-mediated breast cancer support groups on emotional well-being, and explores whether this relationship is moderated by health self-efficacy. To test the hypotheses, analysis of data was ...
The purpose of this study is to build a theoretical framework to account for how social media lea... more 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 prosmoking 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.
Social media have become increasingly important in risk and crisis situations. However, little is... more Social media have become increasingly important in risk and crisis situations. However, little is known about which types of social media have greater influence on risk perceptions and behaviors. This study pursues two goals related to this question. The first is to explicate the cognitive mechanism underlying the process through which exposure to risk information on social media shapes people's behavioral intentions. The second is to determine whether exposures to risk information on two different types of social media-content-oriented social media focusing on shared interests versus user-oriented social media focusing on social relationships-have different effects on people's risk perceptions and behavioral intentions. Analyzing survey data from 688 adults from the general population of South Korea in the context of carcinogenic hazards, we found that self-reported content-oriented social media exposure (to risk information) was significantly related to both personal-level and societal-level risk perceptions. In addition, content-oriented social media exposure was associated with behavioral intentions indirectly through risk perceptions. However, user-oriented social media exposure had no impact on risk perceptions and behavioral intentions, either directly or indirectly through risk perceptions.
This study examined the effect of celebrity smoking exemplars in health news on college students&... more This study examined the effect of celebrity smoking exemplars in health news on college students' perceptions of smoking-related health risks and smoking intentions. The data were collected using a Web-based survey of 219 undergraduate students at a large midwestern university in March 2011. Separate analyses of covariance were conducted. The influence of negative exemplars of celebrity smoking on perceptions of smoking-related health risks and smoking intentions varied according to smoking status. Ever-smokers who read smoking news with negative exemplars of celebrity smoking were more likely than ever-smokers who read the same news absent any exemplar to report higher levels of perceptions of smoking-related health risks and lower levels of smoking intentions. However, these patterns were not found in never-smokers. Exemplification theory enhanced by the celebrity element may be effectively applied as a strategy to change health behavior in college students.
Given the vast amount of possibly relevant information that circulates on social media during epi... more Given the vast amount of possibly relevant information that circulates on social media during epidemics, it is imperative to examine how exposure to such information influences preventive practices. Using a communication mediation framework, this research investigates the underlying mechanisms of how exposure to COVID-19 information on social media affects the willingness to conduct COVID-19 preventive measures in South Korea. A structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis of survey data from 1,209 Korean adults showed that social media exposure indirectly influenced the intention to take preventive actions through interpersonal communication, social media expression and knowledge. The findings also revealed that social media exposure exerted differential effects on the intention to adopt preventive measures depending on the types of reasoning, including interpersonal communication and social media expression. The findings provide important implications for health communication.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may reduce or widen health inequalities. Despite the extensi... more Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may reduce or widen health inequalities. Despite the extensive literature in support of both of these contrasting views, little attention has been paid to the role of mHealth technologies with regard to social strata and health in the context of South Korea, a country with one of the highest usages of smartphones worldwide. This study examined the effects of social determinants on health self-efficacy and health status and explored how mHealth technologies moderate the impacts of social determinants on health outcomes. Data were collected via online surveys from 29 July to 3 August 2021. Survey data from 1187 Korean adults showed that men had higher levels of health self-efficacy than women. The higher an individual’s education level, the greater their subjective health status. Individuals with higher levels of monthly household income, social capital, and healthcare quality reported higher levels of health self-efficacy and superior health statu...
Analyzing data from a nationally representative online survey, this study explores the influence ... more Analyzing data from a nationally representative online survey, this study explores the influence of individuals’ media exposure, information-gathering ability, and trust in institutions on their risk perceptions and behavioral intentions to engage in social and economic activities during the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in South Korea. We find that media exposure, information-gathering ability, trust in the government, and trust in news media are significant factors in shaping the public’s risk perceptions of the virus, which in turn influenced their intentions to engage in social and economic activities. The results demonstrate that the MERS outbreak was not only a public health issue but also an economic one. The study findings have important implications for effective risk and health communication and for the roles of government and news media during future national risk events affecting public health.
YouTube has become an increasingly popular source of tourism information. The purpose of this stu... more YouTube has become an increasingly popular source of tourism information. The purpose of this study is to explore the network structures of YouTube videos about Incheon’s Chinatown in South Korea and investigate the potential factors that can predict the viewing of these videos. The analysis of 104 videos about Incheon Chinatown revealed that the engagement factors assessed by the number of comments and likes, and the running time of content, were significant predictors of viewing. However, network structure factors did not predict viewing. These findings make valuable contributions to sustainable tourism research and provide practical guidance for tourism management.
Social networking sites (SNS) are becoming one of the most significant platforms for social inter... more Social networking sites (SNS) are becoming one of the most significant platforms for social interaction and information exchange in epidemics. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about what facilitates or hinders individuals' engagement in information exchange in the event of an infectious disease outbreak. This study examined the effects of potential predictors that might be associated with the expression and reception of information on SNS during the South Korea Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak. Analysis of an online survey among 1000 adults from the general population of South Korea showed that expressing and receiving MERS-related information were predicted differentially by diverse social-demographic, socioeconomic , and psychosocial factors. Among psychosocial characteristics, risk perceptions and self-efficacy interacted with each other to predict the expression and reception of MERS-related information. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Analyzing nationally representative online panel survey data during the MERS outbreak in South Ko... more Analyzing nationally representative online panel survey data during the MERS outbreak in South Korea, this study examined the role of social media exposure in shaping public's risk perceptions of MERS. The present study also investigated the moderating role of heuristic-systematic processing and self-efficacy in the relationship between social media exposure and risk perceptions. The findings of this study showed that social media exposure was positively related to forming risk perceptions. Moreover, heuristic-systematic processing and self-efficacy were found to moderate the impact of social media on risk perceptions. The interaction effects suggested that the role of social media in increasing risk perceptions of MERS was heighted by heuristic-systematic processing and self-efficacy. The results and implications of this study are discussed in greater details.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine, in the context of online news use, the predictiv... more Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine, in the context of online news use, the predictive values of two factors: perceived bias in traditional media and preference for partisan news. Design/methodology/approach This study used data collected as part of the Pew Internet and American Life Project between December 28, 2009, and January 19, 2010. The data were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Findings The findings provide evidence of the values of two potentially significant predictors of online news use: a perception of bias in traditional media and preference for partisan news. In addition, higher levels of political partisanship were shown to intensify the positive effect of perceived bias in traditional media on online news use in new media outlets, reinforcing the impact of preference for partisan news on participatory online news use. Research limitations/implications Depending on individual decisions, the internet can either help to empower deliberative democra...
Individuals use social network sites (SNSs) as an effective tool for communicating relevant infor... more Individuals use social network sites (SNSs) as an effective tool for communicating relevant information with others during the outbreak of infectious diseases. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism through which communicative behaviors influence preventive behaviors. Thus, in the context of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in South Korea, this study investigated how two communicative behaviors (message expression and reception) in SNSs affected the communicators' intentions to engage in MERS-preventive behaviors. Using data collected from a nationally representative panel survey of 1000 Korean adults aged 19 or older, we examined a theoretical expression and reception effects model. Results support the presence of effects from expressing and receiving MERS-related information via SNSs and their underlying mechanism during South Korea's MERS outbreak. Public health officials and communication professionals should actively use SNS communication in coping with public health crisis caused by emerging infectious diseases.
Background Communication inequalities are important mechanisms linking socioeconomic backgrounds ... more Background Communication inequalities are important mechanisms linking socioeconomic backgrounds to health outcomes. Guided by the structural influence model of communication, this study examined the intermediate role of health communication in the relationship between education, income, and preventive behavioral intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and South Korea. Methods The data were collected through two online surveys conducted by two professional research firms in the US (April 1–3, 2020) and South Korea (April 9–16, 2020). To test the mediating role of health communication, as well as the hypothesized relationships in the proposed model, we performed a path analysis using Mplus 6.1. Results In analyzing survey data from 1050 American and 1175 Korean adults, we found that one’s socioeconomic positions were associated with their intentions to engage in COVID-19 preventive behaviors through affecting their health communication experiences and then effica...
This study examined how giving and receiving emotional support in a smartphone-based alcoholism s... more This study examined how giving and receiving emotional support in a smartphone-based alcoholism support group changed over time, and what factors predicted the changing patterns. Data were collected as part of a randomized clinical trial of testing a smartphone-based relapse prevention system for alcoholics. Findings suggested that giving and receiving emotional support in a smartphone-based alcoholism support group tended to decline over time. The initial value and growth rate of giving and receiving emotional support varied depending on the group participants' characteristics. These features should be considered in building strategies for the design and implementation of smartphone-based addiction support groups.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and effects of exchanging emotional suppo... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and effects of exchanging emotional support via a smartphone-based support group for patients with alcohol dependence. Of the 349 patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) criteria for alcohol dependence, 153 patients participated in the discussion group within the Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System, a smartphone application aimed at reducing relapse. This was developed to prevent problem drinking by offering individuals in recovery for alcohol dependence automated 24/7 recovery support services and frequent assessment of their symptom status as part of their addiction care. The results showed that receiving emotional support from health care providers improved coping self-efficacy. Giving emotional support and receiving emotional support from health care providers acted as a buffer, protecting patients from the harmful effects of emotional distress on risky drin...
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