Journal article
Stepping back from social norms campaigns: comparing normative influences to other predictors of health behaviors
Health communication, Vol.20(3), pp.277-288
2006
DOI: 10.1207/s15327027hc2003_7
PMID: 17137419
Abstract
Recent health campaigns on college campuses have used a social norms approach, which suggests that one's perceptions of others' attitudes and behaviors are the key components in attitude and behavior change. However, the efficacy of social norms campaigns has been mixed. This study was conducted to assess the relationships among sociodemographics, normative perceptions, and individual attitudes on 3 health behaviors. Students at 2 universities (N = 393) completed questionnaires assessing how these variables related to their consumption of alcohol, tobacco use, and exercise behaviors. Regressions indicated that each of these variables was associated with behavior, but varied independent variables emerged as the salient predictors among behaviors. In several conditions the effect of normative perceptions on behaviors was not significant, a finding in direct opposition to social norms marketing. In all 3 behavioral conditions, the variable accounting for the greatest variance was whether or not the individual liked participating in that particular behavior. Thus, although some social norms marketing may be meeting with success, it may be the case that predicted attitudinal and behavioral changes will not be found when applied across diverse health topics.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Stepping back from social norms campaigns: comparing normative influences to other predictors of health behaviors
- Creators
- Kenzie A Cameron - Center for Communication and Medicine and Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. k-cameron@northwestern.eduShelly Campo
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Health communication, Vol.20(3), pp.277-288
- Publisher
- England
- DOI
- 10.1207/s15327027hc2003_7
- PMID
- 17137419
- ISSN
- 1041-0236
- eISSN
- 1532-7027
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2006
- Academic Unit
- Graduate College Admin and Gen; Communication Studies; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984064182202771
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