Journal article
Perceptions of Pandemic Messaging Across 36 Weeks: A Repeated Cross-Section Design With US Adults
Science communication, Vol.48(1), pp.59-92
02/2026
DOI: 10.1177/10755470251318199
Abstract
To understand public perceptions of pandemic messaging, we surveyed U.S. adults for 36 consecutive weeks starting on March 12, 2020. Using a repeated cross-section design, we tracked intentions to engage in protective behaviors, demographics, and four message perceptions: exhaustion, overload, repetition, and exaggeration. Exhaustion increased over time and became negatively related to intentions (rising negativity model). Exaggeration was stable across the 36 weeks, yet had the strongest negative relationship with intentions and that relationship increased over time (fixed model with increasing negative relationship). Overload and repetition were positively related to intentions, but the relationships faded over time (fading positivity model).
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Perceptions of Pandemic Messaging Across 36 Weeks: A Repeated Cross-Section Design With US Adults
- Creators
- Jakob D. Jensen - University of UtahJoshua B. Barbour - University of Illinois SystemHelen M. Lillie - University of IowaChelsea L. Ratcliff - University of GeorgiaManusheela Pokharel - Texas State UniversityAndy J. King - University of Utah
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Science communication, Vol.48(1), pp.59-92
- DOI
- 10.1177/10755470251318199
- ISSN
- 1075-5470
- eISSN
- 1552-8545
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 34
- Grant note
- R01GM141476 / National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) SES-1750731 / National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF) 3P30CA042014-29S7 / NIH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA Immunology, Inflammation, and Infectious Disease Initiative 1DP2EB022360-01 / National Institutes of Health (NIH); United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 02/26/2025
- Date published
- 02/2026
- Academic Unit
- Communication Studies
- Record Identifier
- 9984799675902771
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