Journal article
Textual and pictorial enhancement of cannabis warning labels: An Online experiment among at-risk U.S. young adults
Drug and alcohol dependence, Vol.237, pp.109520-109520
08/01/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109520
PMID: 35724518
Abstract
This study experimentally examines whether enhanced cannabis warning labels (CWLs) outperform those currently required in the U.S. in improving recall of health risks, emotional responses, and perceived message effectiveness among at-risk young adults.
We conducted an online national survey-based experiment in October 2020. Young adults aged 18–26 years old and at-risk for cannabis use (N = 523) were randomly assigned in an online experiment, to view either currently required CWLs in California with small font and a composite health risk statement, or enhanced single-theme CWLs with varying textual and pictorial components. We performed linear regression analyses to compare the enhanced with existing CWLs on information recall, negative emotions, and perceived message effectiveness. Furthermore, information recall and negative emotions were examined as parallel mediators to better understand the mechanisms underlying effective textual and pictorial enhancement of CWLs.
Compared with currently required CWLs in California, both textually (b = 0.30, p = .011) and pictorially (b = 0.59, p < .001) enhanced CWLs increased recall accuracy. Pictorially enhanced CWLs outperformed their text-only counterparts (b = 0.28, p = .019) in improving information recall. Only pictorially enhanced CWLs improved perceived message effectiveness (b = 0.31, p = .008), which was mediated by negative emotions but not by information recall.
Given rapid expansion of the cannabis industry and declining perception of harm, currently required CWLs in the U.S. such as California’s, would benefit from redesign to improve public understanding of health risks and to prevent youth use.
•Textual CWL enhancements improved information recall among US young adults.•Pictorial CWL enhancements improved information recall and perceived effectiveness.•Negative emotions mediated pictorial enhancements' effects on perceived effectiveness.•Currently required CWLs in the U.S. are overdue for a redesign.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Textual and pictorial enhancement of cannabis warning labels: An Online experiment among at-risk U.S. young adults
- Creators
- Sang Jung Kim - University of Wisconsin–MadisonMatt Minich - University of Wisconsin–MadisonArina Tveleneva - University of WashingtonJiaying Liu - Department of Communication Studies, University of Georgia, 628 Caldwell Hall, Athens, GA 30602, USAAlisa A. Padon - Public Health Institute, 555 12th, St Oakland, CA 94607, USALynn D. Silver - Public Health Institute, 555 12th, St Oakland, CA 94607, USASijia Yang - University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Drug and alcohol dependence, Vol.237, pp.109520-109520
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109520
- PMID
- 35724518
- ISSN
- 0376-8716
- eISSN
- 1879-0046
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100012787, name: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison; DOI: 10.13039/100001395, name: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, award: MSN231886, MSN249368; DOI: 10.13039/100001808, name: Public Health Institute
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Record Identifier
- 9984460331602771
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