Inoculating against fatalistic beliefs: a comparative test of narrative and non-narrative strategies

IF 5.3 1区文学 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Journal of Communication Pub Date : 2026-10-01 DOI:10.1093/joc/jqag018

Minyi Chen,Hye Kyung Kim

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract This study compares the effectiveness of narrative and non-narrative inoculation messages in reducing fatalistic beliefs and fostering resistance to conflicting cancer information. A two-phase randomized experiment (N = 572 in Phase 1; n = 332 in Phase 2) tested their effects on counterarguing against attack, cancer fatalism, perceived efficacy, and intentions to adopt cancer risk-reduction behaviors. Compared with control, both inoculation messages reduced cancer fatalism, enhanced perceived efficacy, and increased certain intentions to adopt certain risk-reduction behaviors. Narrative inoculation elicited more counterarguing against attack than the non-narrative counterpart. Inoculation effects also varied by baseline fatalism, functioning therapeutically by immediately reducing initially high fatalism and, more modestly, prophylactically by maintaining initially low fatalism. These findings extend inoculation theory by elucidating the role of message format in sustaining resistance to negative media effects, and by demonstrating the theory’s potential dual prophylactic–therapeutic functionality in a fatalistic belief context.

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预防宿命论：叙述与非叙述策略的比较检验

摘要本研究比较了叙述性和非叙述性接种信息在减少宿命论信念和培养对相互矛盾的癌症信息的抵抗力方面的有效性。一项两期随机实验（第一阶段N = 572，第二阶段N = 332）测试了它们在对抗攻击、癌症宿命论、感知疗效和采取癌症风险降低行为意愿方面的作用。与对照组相比，接种信息降低了癌症宿命论，增强了感知疗效，并增加了采取某些降低风险行为的意愿。与非叙事的对应物相比，叙事接种引发了更多反对攻击的反驳。接种效果也因基线宿命论而异，通过立即减少最初的高宿命论发挥治疗作用，通过维持最初的低宿命论发挥预防作用。这些发现通过阐明信息格式在维持对负面媒体影响的抵抗力中的作用，并通过证明该理论在宿命论信仰背景下潜在的双重预防-治疗功能，扩展了接种理论。

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来源期刊

Journal of Communication COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

11.60

自引率

5.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Communication, the flagship journal of the International Communication Association, is a vital publication for communication specialists and policymakers alike. Focusing on communication research, practice, policy, and theory, it delivers the latest and most significant findings in communication studies. The journal also includes an extensive book review section and symposia of selected studies on current issues. JoC publishes top-quality scholarship on all aspects of communication, with a particular interest in research that transcends disciplinary and sub-field boundaries.