Targeting Physical Inactivity - Effects of Three Different Consequence Frames on Population Subgroups' Health-Related Perceptions and Behavioral Intentions.

Physical inactivity constitutes a major health problem in many Western societies affecting a variety of social groups. As these groups often differ in responsivity to physical inactivity messages, the strategy of message targeting, i.e. the customization of messages toward shared characteristics of a social group provides a useful framework for designing effective communication. Whereas focusing on health consequences of physical inactivity might prove useful for some social groups, it might be more effective to emphasize its social or financial consequences for others. The current examination compares the effects of three types of consequence framing (health consequences vs. social consequences vs. financial consequences of physical inactivity) on health-related perceptions and intentions for different population subgroups. An experiment with a one-factorial between subjects design based on a quota sample was conducted. 348 respondents differing in terms of age, sex, and formal education were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental conditions and read an accordingly manipulated newspaper article. Findings show that financial and social consequence frames were more effective than health consequence frames. Both frames positively influenced behavioral intentions through perceptions of susceptibility. These effects were largely independent of sociodemographic variables, although sex and education emerged as moderators in some cases.