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Cited by 3,216Behavioral Health and InterventionsMedia Influence and HealthRisk Perception and Management

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 151 of the 151 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

A Meta-Analysis of Fear Appeals: Implications for Effective Public Health Campaigns

Witte, Kim, Allen, Mike·2000·Health Education & Behavior
DOI 10.1177/109019810002700506
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Abstract

The fear appeal literature is examined in a comprehensive synthesis using meta-analytical techniques. The meta-analysis suggests that strong fear appeals produce high levels of perceived severity and susceptibility, and are more persuasive than low or weak fear appeals. The results also indicate that fear appeals motivate adaptive danger control actions such as message acceptance and maladaptive fear control actions such as defensive avoidance or reactance. It appears that strong fear appeals and high-efficacy messages produce the greatest behavior change, whereas strong fear appeals with low-efficacy messages produce the greatest levels of defensive responses. Future directions and practical implications are provided.

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Crossref · 10.1177/109019810002700506

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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 22

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  16. Beach RI, 1956, Res Rev, 53
  17. 90. Carey JC: The Influence of Involvement on Cognitive and Emotional Responses to Fear Appeals . Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 1990.
  18. 91. Chang JL: Emotional Response and the Use of Threat Appeals . Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 1989.
  19. Fruin DJ, 1992, J Abnormal Social Psych, 22, 55
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Metadata

Authors
Witte, K., & Allen, M.
Affiliations
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (US)
ORCID
Allen, Mike
Venue
Health Education & Behavior
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2000-10
Volume
27
Issue
5
Pages
591-615
ISSN
  • 1090-1981 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-6127
DOI
10.1177/109019810002700506
OpenAlex
W1997092577
Cited by
3,216
References
144
Citations by year
2026: 154 · 2025: 152 · 2024: 141 · 2023: 211 · 2022: 215 · 2021: 269 · 2020: 273 · 2019: 133 · 2018: 154 · 2017: 166 · 2016: 148 · 2015: 156 · 2014: 165 · 2013: 142 · 2012: 119
FWCI
20.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Health Education & Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Media Influence and Health
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
Keywords
fear appeals, public health campaigns, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, defensive avoidance, reactance, message acceptance, behavior change, persuasive communication
MeSH terms
Fear, Health Education, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Persuasive Communication, Public Health

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