ABSTRACT

This study extends psychological reactance theory by examining denial of a public health threat and resistance toward media sharing as two novel types of freedom restoration. Participants (N = 220) were randomly assigned to watch a video advocating COVID-19 guidelines and completed an online survey assessing corresponding perceptions and behavioral intentions. Results of structural equation modeling supported the two-step model of reactance: greater perceived freedom threat was related to greater reactance, which in turn was linked to lower intentions to comply with COVID-19 guidelines, lower intentions to share the video with one’s online social network, and greater denial of COVID-19 as a public health threat. Implications for psychological reactance theory and health campaign design are discussed.

摘要

本研究通过将否认公共健康威胁和抵制媒体共享作为两种新的自由恢复类型来扩展心理反作用理论。参与者 ( N = 220) 被随机分配观看宣传 COVID-19 指南的视频，并完成了一项在线调查，评估相应的看法和行为意图。结构方程模型的结果支持电抗的两步模型：更大的感知自由威胁与更大的电抗有关，这反过来又与较低的遵守 COVID-19 指南的意图有关，较低的与在线社交分享视频的意图有关网络，并更大程度地否认 COVID-19 是公共卫生威胁。讨论了对心理反应理论和健康运动设计的影响。