The COVID-19 pandemic (and its aftermath) highlights a critical need to communicate health information effectively to the global public. Given that subtle differences in information framing can have meaningful effects on behavior, behavioral science research highlights a pressing question: Is it more effective to frame COVID-19 health messages in terms of potential losses (e.g., " If you do not practice these steps, you can endanger yourself and others ") or potential gains (e.g., " If you practice these steps, you can protect yourself and others ")? Collecting data in 48 languages from 15,929 participants in 84 countries, we experimentally tested the effects of message framing on COVID-19 related judgments, intentions, and feelings. Loss (vs. gain) framed messages increased self reported anxiety among participants cross nationally with little to no impact on policy attitudes, behavioral intentions, or information seeking relevant to pandemic risks. These results were consistent across 84 countries, three variations of the message framing wording, and 560 data processing and analytic choices. Thus, results provide an empirical answer to a global communication question and highlight the emotional toll of loss-framed messages. Critically, this work demonstrates the importance of considering unintended affective consequences when evaluating nudge style interventions.
- In COVID-19 Health Messaging, Loss Framing Increases Anxiety with Little-to-No Concomitant Benefits: Experimental Evidence from 84 Countries
- Charles A Dorison (Corresponding Author) - Northwestern UniversityJennifer S Lerner (Author) - Harvard UniversityBlake H. Heller (Author) - Harvard UniversityAlexander J. Rothman (Author) - University of Minnesota SystemIchiro I. Kawachi (Author) - Harvard UniversityKe Wang (Author) - Harvard UniversityVaughan W. Rees (Author) - Harvard UniversityBrian P. Gill (Author)Nancy Gibbs (Author) - Harvard UniversityCharles R Ebersole (Author) - University of VirginiaZahir Vally - United Arab Emirates UniversityZuzanna Tajchman - University of MinnesotaAndras N Zsido - University of PecsMija Zrimsek - University of LjubljanaZhang Chen - Ghent UniversityIgnazio Ziano - Grenoble Ecole de ManagementZoi GialitakiChris D Ceary - Indiana University of PennsylvaniaYijun Lin - University of FloridaYoshihiko Kunisato - Senshu UniversityYuki Yamada - Kyushu UniversityQinyu Xiao - University of Hong KongXiaoming Jiang - Shanghai International Studies UniversityXinkai Du - University of AmsterdamElvin Yao - Claremont Graduate UniversityJohn Paul Wilson - Montclair State UniversityWilson Cyrus-Lai - INSEADWilliam Jimenez-Leal - Universidad de Los AndesWilbert Law - Education University of Hong KongW Matthew Collins - Nova Southeastern UniversityKarley L Richard - Indiana University of PennsylvaniaMarek Vranka - Charles UniversityVladislav Ankushev - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsVidar Schei - Norwegian School of EconomicsValerija Križanić - University of OsijekV KadrevaVesilina Hristova Kadreva - New Bulgarian UniversityVera Cubela Adoric - University of ZadarUlrich S Tran - University of ViennaWidad Hassan - University of East LondonRalph HoustonTiago J S Lima - Universidade de BrasíliaThomas Ostermann - Witten/Herdecke UniversityThomas Frizzo - Université de LorraineTherese E Sverdrup - Norwegian School of EconomicsThea House - Macquarie UniversityTripat Gill - Wilfrid Laurier UniversityMaksim Fedotov - Russian Academy of SciencesTamar PaltrowTeodor Jernsather - Stockholm UniversityMaria Koptjevskaja-Tamm - Stockholm UniversityThomas Hostler - Manchester Metropolitan UniversityTatsunori Ishii - Japan Women's UniversityBarnabas Szaszi - Eötvös Loránd UniversitySylwia Adamus - Jagiellonian UniversityLilian Suter - ZHAW Zurich University of Applied SciencesSumaiya Habib - University of DhakaAnna Studzinska - Institut Catholique d'Arts et MétiersDragana Stojanovska - Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in SkopjeSteve M J Janssen - University of Nottingham Malaysia CampusStefan Stieger - Karl Landsteiner University of Health SciencesStefan E Schulenberg - University of MississippiSrinivasan Tatachari - Manipal Academy of Higher Education, DubaiSoufian Azouaghe - Mohammed V UniversityPiotr Sorokowski - University of WrocławAgnieszka Sorokowska - University of WrocławXinkai Song - University of MinnesotaSavannah Lewis - Ashland UniversitySladjana Sinkolova - Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in SkopjeDmitry Grigoryev - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsShira Meir Drexler - St. Mauritius TherapieklinikShimrit Daches - Bar-Ilan UniversityShawn N Geniole - University of the Fraser ValleySelena Vračar - University of BelgradeSébastien Massoni - Université de LorraineSaša Zorjan - University of MariborEylül Sarıoğuz - Başkent UniversitySara Morales Izquierdo - University of WarwickSara G Alves - Universidade do PortoSara Pöntinen - Åbo Akademi UniversitySara Álvarez-Solas - Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAMSantiago Ordoñez-Riaño - Universidad de GuadalajaraSanja Batić Očovaj - Union UniversitySandersan Onie - Black Dog InstituteSamuel Lins - Universidade do PortoSami Çoksan - Erzurum Technical UniversityAsli SacakliSusana Ruiz-Fernandez - FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and ManagementSandra J Geiger - University of AmsterdamSaideh FatahModares - Urmia UniversityRadoslaw B Walczak - University of OpoleRuben Betlehem - University of OsijekRoosevelt Vilar - Universidade Cruzeiro do SulRodrigo Cárcamo - San Sebastián UniversityRobert M Ross - Macquarie UniversityRandy J McCarthy - Northern Illinois UniversityTonia Ballantyne - Indiana University of PennsylvaniaErin C Westgate - University of FloridaReza Afhami - Tarbiat Modares UniversityDongning Ren - Tilburg UniversityRenan P Monteiro - Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do SulUlf-Dietrich Reips - University of KonstanzNiv Reggev - Ben-Gurion University of the NegevRobert J Calin-Jageman - Dominican UniversityRazieh Pourafshari - University of TehranRaquel Oliveira - Iscte – Instituto Universitário de LisboaMina Nedelcheva-Datsova - Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"Rima-Maria Rahal - Tilburg UniversityRafael R Ribeiro - Iscte – Instituto Universitário de LisboaTheda Radtke - University of WuppertalRachel Searston - The University of AdelaideRedeate Habte - Constructor UniversityPrzemysław Zdybek - University of OpoleSau-Chin Chen - Tzu Chi UniversityPrincess Lovella G Maturan - University of the Philippines DilimanJennifer T Perillo - Indiana University of PennsylvaniaPeder M Isager - Eindhoven University of TechnologyPavol Kačmár - University of Pavol Jozef ŠafárikPaulo Manuel Macapagal - Arellano UniversityPaulina Szwed - Jagiellonian UniversityPaul H P Hanel - University of EssexPaul A G Forbes - University of ViennaPatrícia Arriaga - Iscte – Instituto Universitário de LisboaBastien Paris - Université Grenoble AlpesKonstantinos Papachristopoulos - Concordia UniversityPablo Sebastian Correa - Universidad Nacional de CórdobaOndřej Kácha - University of CambridgeMárcia Bernardo - Universidade do PortoOlatz Campos - Universidad de DeustoOlalla Niño BravoOscar J Galindo-Caballero - Universidad de Los AndesChisom Esther Ogbonnaya - Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-AlikeOlga Bialobrzeska - Uniwersytet SWPSNatalia Kiselnikova - Psychological Institute of the Russian Academy of EducationNicolle Simonovic - Kent State UniversityNoga Cohen - University of HaifaNora L Nock - Case Western Reserve UniversityNiklas Johannes - University of OxfordNihan Albayrak-Aydemir - London School of Economics and Political ScienceNicolas Say - Prague University of Economics and BusinessNathan Torunsky - University of Minnesota, DuluthNatalia Van Doren - Pennsylvania State UniversityNaoyuki Sunami - University of DelawareNikolay R Rachev - Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"Nadyanna M Majeed - Singapore Management UniversityNadya-Daniela Schmidt - University of HildesheimNadif KhaoulaNadia S Corral-Frías - Universidad de SonoraNihal Ouherrou - Université de MontpellierMyrto Pantazi - University of OxfordMarc Y Lucas - Universidad de SonoraMartin R Vasilev - Bournemouth UniversityMaría Victoria Ortiz - Universidad Nacional de CórdobaMuhammad Mussaffa Butt - Government College University, LahoreMuhib Kabir - University of DhakaRafał Muda - The Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyMaria del Carmen MC Tejada Rivera - Universidad del DesarrolloMiroslav Sirota - University of EssexMartin Seehuus - Middlebury College (United States, MiddleburyMichal Parzuchowski - Uniwersytet SWPSMónica Toro - Universidad del DesarrolloMonika Hricova - University of Pavol Jozef ŠafárikMonica Alarcon MaldonadoMagdalena Marszalek - Uniwersytet SWPSMaria Karekla - University of CyprusGiovanna Mioni - University of PaduaMinke Jasmijn Bosma - University of AmsterdamMinja Westerlund - Åbo Akademi UniversityMilica Vdovic - Singidunum UniversityMichał Białek - University of WrocławMiguel A Silan - University of the Philippines DilimanMichele Anne - University of Nottingham Malaysia CampusMichal Misiak - University of WrocławMaurice Grinberg - New Bulgarian UniversityMariagrazia Capizzi - Université Paul-Valéry MontpellierMauricio F Espinoza Barria - Universidad del DesarrolloMerve A Kurfali - Bilkent UniversityMichael C Mensink - University of Wisconsin–StoutMikayel Harutyunyan - Charles UniversityMeetu Khosla - University of DelhiMax Korbmacher - Western Norway University of Applied SciencesMatus Adamkovic - University of PrešovMatheus Fernando Felix Ribeiro - Universidade BrasilMaria Terskova - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsMatej Hruška - Comenius University BratislavaMarcel Martončik - University of PrešovMartin Voracek - University of ViennaMartin Čadek - Leeds Beckett UniversityMartha Frias-Armenta - Universidad de SonoraMarta Kowal - University of WrocławMarta Topor - University of SurreyMarta Roczniewska - Uniwersytet SWPSMarlies OosterlinckMarkéta Braun Kohlová - Charles UniversityMariola Paruzel-Czachura - University of Silesia in KatowiceMarina Romanova - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsMarietta Papadatou-Pastou - National and Kapodistrian University of AthensMaria Louise Lund - University of OsloMaria Antoniadi - University of CyprusMarc V Jones - Manchester Metropolitan UniversityManuel S Ortiz - Universidad de La FronteraMathi Manavalan - University of MinnesotaAbdumalik MuminovMalgorzata Kossowska - Jagiellonian UniversityMaja Friedemann - University of OxfordMagdalena Wielgus - Jagiellonian UniversityMarco A C Varella - University of Sao PauloMelissa F Colloff - University of BirminghamMaria Bradford - Universidad de Los AndesLeigh Ann Vaughn - Ithaca CollegeLuis Eudave - Universidad de NavarraLuc Vieira - Université Paris CitéLina Maria Sanabria Pineda - Universidad de Los Andes, ChileLaura Calderón Pérez - Universidad de Los AndesLjiljana B Lazarevic - University of BelgradeLisa M Jaremka - University of DelawareElizaveta Kushnir - Södertörn UniversityLisa Anton-Boicuk - University of ViennaGabriel Lins de Holanda Coelho - University College CorkLina Ahlgren - Åbo Akademi UniversityCarmel A Levitan - Occidental CollegeLeticia Micheli - Leibniz University HannoverLeonhard Volz - University of AmsterdamMarija Stojanovska - University of Nottingham Malaysia CampusLeanne Boucher - Nova Southeastern UniversityLara Samojlenko - University of PrimorskaLady Grey Javela Delgado - Universidad del RosarioLada Kaliska - Matej Bel UniversityLara Warmelink - Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto RicoLuis Miguel Rojas-Berscia - The University of QueenslandKaren Yu - Sewanee: The University of the SouthJakub WachowiczKermeka Desai - University of PennsylvaniaKrystian Barzykowski - ZHAW Zurich University of Applied SciencesLuca Kozma - University of PecsKortnee Evans - Murdoch UniversityKomila KirgizovaBamikole Emmanuel Agesin - Adekunle Ajasin UniversityMonica A Koehn - University of CanberraKelly Wolfe - University of EdinburghTatiana KorobovaKristoffer Klevjer - UiT The Arctic University of NorwayKevin van Schie - University of CambridgeKevin Vezirian - Université Grenoble AlpesKaja Damnjanović - University of BelgradeKatrine Krabbe Thommesen - University of CopenhagenKathleen Schmidt - Southern Illinois University CarbondaleKatarzyna Filip - ZHAW Zurich University of Applied SciencesKarolina Grzech - University of Valencia (Blasco Ibáñez, Valencia, Spain) - UVKarlijn Hoyer - Tilburg UniversityKaris Moon - Kingston University LondonKafeel Rana - Government College University, LahoreKristina Janjic - Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in SkopjeJordan W Suchow - Stevens Institute of TechnologyJulita Kielińska - ZHAW Zurich University of Applied SciencesJulio E Cruz Vásquez - Universidad de Los AndesJulia Beitner - Goethe University FrankfurtJuan Camilo Vargas-Nieto - Universidad de Los AndesJose Carlos T Roxas - University of the Philippines DilimanJennifer Taber - Kent State UniversityJoan Urriago-RayoJeffrey M Pavlacic - University of MississippiJozef Bavolar - University of Pavol Jozef ŠafárikJosé A Soto - Pennsylvania State UniversityJonas K Olofsson - Stockholm UniversityJohannes K Vilsmeier - University of ViennaJohanna Messerschmidt - Leipzig UniversityJohanna Czamanski-Cohen - University of HaifaJordane Boudesseul - Universidad de LimaJeong Min Lee - Georgia State UniversityJulia Kamburidis - Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"Janis H Zickfeld - Aarhus UniversityJacob F Miranda - University of AlabamaJeroen P H Verharen - University of California, BerkeleyEvgeniya Hristova - New Bulgarian UniversityJulie E Beshears - Alliant UniversityJasna Milošević Đorđević Milošević Đorđević - Singidunum UniversityJasmijn Bosch - University of Milano-BicoccaJaroslava Varella Valentova - University of Sao PauloJan Antfolk - Åbo Akademi UniversityJana B Berkessel - University of MannheimJana Schrötter - University of Pavol Jozef ŠafárikJan Urban - Charles UniversityJan Philipp Röer - Witten/Herdecke UniversityJames O Norton - Murdoch UniversityJaime R Silva - Universidad del DesarrolloJade S Pickering - University of SouthamptonJáchym Vintr - Charles UniversityJim Uttley - University of SheffieldJonas R Kunst - University of OsloIzuchukwu L G Ndukaihe - Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-AlikeAishwarya Iyer - Sampurna Montfort College - Bengaluru, IndiaIris Vilares - University of MinnesotaAleksandr Ivanov - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsIvan Ropovik - University of PrešovIrena Sarieva - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsIrem Metin-Orta - Atilim UniversityIrina Prusova - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsIsabel R Pinto - Universidade do PortoAndreea Ioana Bozdoc - Lucian Blaga University of SibiuInês A T Almeida - University of CoimbraIlse L Pit - University of OxfordIlker Dalgar - Ankara Medipol ÜniversitesiIlya Zakharov - Psychological Institute of the Russian Academy of EducationAzuka Ikechukwu Arinze - Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-AlikeKeiko Ihaya - Fukuoka Institute of TechnologyIan D Stephen - Macquarie UniversityBiljana Gjoneska - Macedonian Academy of Sciences and ArtsHilmar Brohmer - University of GrazHeather D Flowe - University of BirminghamHendrik Godbersen - FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and ManagementHalil Emre Kocalar - Muğla UniversityMattie V Hedgebeth - Virginia Commonwealth UniversityHu Chuan-Peng - Nanjing Normal UniversityMohammad Hasan Sharifian - University of TehranHarry Manley - Chulalongkorn UniversityHandan Akkas - Ankara Bilim ÜniversitesiNandor Hajdu - Eötvös Loránd UniversityHabiba Azab - Baylor College of MedicineGwenael Kaminski - Université de ToulouseGustav Nilsonne - Stockholm UniversityGulnaz Anjum - University of OsloGiovanni A Travaglino - Royal Holloway University of LondonGilad Feldman - University of Hong KongGerit Pfuhl - UiT The Arctic University of NorwayGabriela Czarnek - Jagiellonian UniversityGabriela Mariana Marcu - Lucian Blaga University of SibiuGabriela Hofer - University of GrazGabriel Baník - University of PrešovGabriel Agboola Adetula - Adekunle Ajasin UniversityGijsbert Bijlstra - Radboud University NijmegenFrederick Verbruggen - Ghent UniversityFranki Y H Kung - Purdue University West LafayetteFrancesco Foroni - Australian Catholic UniversityGage Singer - Indiana University of PennsylvaniaFany Muchembled - Tecnológico de MonterreyFlavio Azevedo - University of CambridgeFarnaz Mosannenzadeh - Radboud University NijmegenEvelina Marinova - Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"Eva Strukelj - Sapienza University of RomeZahra Etebari - Ferdowsi University of MashhadErnest Baskin - Saint Joseph's UniversityElkin Oswaldo Luis Garcia - Universidad de NavarraErica D Musser - Florida International UniversityI M M van Steenkiste - Leiden UniversityEl Rim Ahn - University of FloridaEkaterina Pronizius - University of ViennaEmily A Jackson - University of PennsylvaniaEfisio Manunta - Baylor College of MedicineElena Agadullina - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsDušana Šakan - Union UniversityPinar Dursun - Afyon Kocatepe UniversityOlivier Dujols - Université Grenoble AlpesDmitrii Dubrov - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsMegan Willis - Australian Catholic UniversityMurat Tümer - Hacettepe UniversityJennifer L Beaudry - Swinburne University of TechnologyDora Popović - Institut Društvenih Znanosti Ivo PilarDaniel Dunleavy - Florida State UniversityIkhlas Djamai - Mohammed V UniversityDino Krupić - University of OsijekDiego Vega - Latin University of Costa RicaHongfei Du - Beijing Normal UniversityDebora Mola - Universidad Nacional de CórdobaWilliam E Davis - Wittenberg UniversityDawn Liu Holford - University of EssexDavid M G Lewis - Murdoch UniversityDavid C Vaidis - Université Paris CitéDaphna Hausman Ozery - California State University, NorthridgeDanilo Zambrano Ricaurte - Fundación Universitaria Konrad LorenzDaniel Storage - University of DenverDaniela Sousa - University of CoimbraDaniela Serrato Alvarez - Fundación Universitaria Konrad LorenzAnna Dalla Rosa - University of PaduaDajana KrupićDafne Marko - University of LjubljanaDavid Moreau - University of AucklandCrystal Reeck - Temple UniversityRita C Correia - Universidade do PortoCassie M Whitt - University of AlabamaClaus Lamm - University of ViennaClaudio Singh Solorzano - Sapienza University of RomeClaudia C von Bastian - University of SheffieldClare A M Sutherland - University of AberdeenClara Overkott - University of ZurichChristopher L AbersonChunhui Wang - Chinese Center For Disease Control and PreventionChristiana Karashiali - University of CyprusChris Noone - National University of IrelandFaith Chiu - University of EssexChiara Picciocchi - University of Naples - L'OrientaleCemre Karaarslan - Başkent UniversityNicola Cellini - University of PaduaCelia Esteban-Serna - University College LondonCecilia Reyna - Universidad Nacional de CórdobaCarlota Batres - Franklin & Marshall CollegeRanran Li - Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamCaterina Grano - Sapienza University of RomeJoelle Carpentier - Université du Québec à MontréalChristian K Tamnes - University of OsloCynthia H Y Fu - King's College LondonByurakn Ishkhanyan - University of CopenhagenLisa Bylinina - Leiden UniversityBastian Jaeger - Tilburg UniversityCarsten Bundt - University of OsloTara Bulut Allred - University of BelgradeAhmed Bokkour - Florida State UniversityNatalia Bogatyreva - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsWilliam J Chopik - Michigan State UniversityBenedict Antazo - Jose Rizal Memorial State UniversityBehzad Behzadnia - University of TabrizMaja Becker - Université de ToulouseBeatrice CoccoWeilun Chou - Fo Guang UniversityBarbora HubenaBarbara Žuro - University of OsijekBalazs Aczel - Eötvös Loránd UniversityEkaterina Baklanova - Lomonosov Moscow State UniversityHui Bai - University of MinnesotaBusra Bahar Balci - Samsun UniversityBabincak Peter - University of PrešovBarnaby J W Dixson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - LegacySee article text for complete list of remaining 58 authors (Author)
- Affective Science, Vol.3(3), pp.577-602
- Springer Cham
- 2022
- 10.1007/s42761-022-00128-3
- 2662-205X
- 36185503; PMC9510728
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- English
- 99678892002621
- Journal article