School of Communication, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.
Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2023 Apr;26(4):279-287. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2022.0231. Epub 2023 Mar 30.
Vaping has dramatically increased in recent years among young adults. To increase risk perceptions and promote preventive behaviors against vaping and secondhand e-cigarette aerosol (SHA), this study designed and tested virtual reality (VR) messages based on the theory of psychological distance. We randomly assigned 137 participants to see one of three messages: a VR message presenting SHAs impact on the self (VR-Self), a VR message showing SHAs impact on others (VR-Other), and a print advertisement. Risk perceptions and preventive intentions/behaviors were assessed at three different times: before, immediately after, and 1 week after the experimental treatment. All three messages increased desired intentions and risk perceptions immediately, reduced vaping interest both immediately and 1 week after message exposure, and increased behavior to persuade others to quit vaping after a week. Compared with the print advertisement, VR-Other generated less vaping interest immediately following message exposure (β = 1.40, = 0.05). After 1 week, VR-Self (β = 1.62, = 0.05) and VR-Other (β = 2.37, = 0.01) generated less vaping interest than the print advertisement. VR-Other also generated a higher level of perceived harm of SHA (β = 1.27, = 0.01) than the print advertisement. VRs advantage over print in reducing vaping interest was increased after 1 week. Although VR-Other generated less emotions, such as fear, than VR-Self ( = 2.48, = 0.02) and print ( = -2.82, = 0.02), its persuasiveness was not hindered. Disgust increased the intentions to persuade others to quit vaping immediately after the experimental treatment (β = 0.85, = 0.02), and anger aroused by recalling the messages decreased vaping interest 1 week later (β = -2.07, = 0.02).
近年来，年轻人使用电子烟的情况急剧增加。为了提高对电子烟和二手电子气溶胶（SHA）的风险认知，促进预防行为，本研究基于心理距离理论设计并测试了虚拟现实（VR）信息。我们随机分配 137 名参与者观看以下三种信息之一：展示 SHA 对自身影响的 VR 信息（VR-Self）、展示 SHA 对他人影响的 VR 信息（VR-Other）和印刷广告。风险认知和预防意图/行为在三个不同时间点进行评估：实验治疗前、治疗后即刻和治疗后 1 周。所有三种信息都立即增加了期望的意图和风险认知，降低了即刻和暴露于信息后 1 周的电子烟兴趣，并增加了说服他人戒烟的行为。与印刷广告相比，VR-Other 在暴露于信息后即刻产生的电子烟兴趣较低（β=1.40，p=0.05）。1 周后，VR-Self（β=1.62，p=0.05）和 VR-Other（β=2.37，p=0.01）产生的电子烟兴趣低于印刷广告。VR-Other 还产生了更高的 SHA 感知危害（β=1.27，p=0.01）比印刷广告。VR 在降低电子烟兴趣方面相对于印刷广告的优势在 1 周后增加。尽管 VR-Other 产生的恐惧等情绪（p=2.48，p=0.02）和印刷广告（p=-2.82，p=0.02）比 VR-Self 少，但它的说服力并未受到阻碍。厌恶感增加了实验治疗后即刻说服他人戒烟的意愿（β=0.85，p=0.02），而回忆信息引起的愤怒在 1 周后降低了电子烟兴趣（β=-2.07，p=0.02）。
