Is It Good to Blame the Government for Epidemic Diseases?

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Health Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Confronting epidemic diseases, the public can make different attributions. Attribution theory suggests that how we determine the cause may shape our judgment of responsibility, motivation, and policy attitudes. This study tests the mediation model, examining the relationship between media use, attribution to self and a government, risk perceptions, and behavioral intention concerning three epidemic diseases: foot-and-mouth disease, mad cow disease, and H1N1 flu. The nationwide online survey (N = 1,001) revealed that media use increased attribution to self and a government. Also the findings indicated that attribution to a government predicted risk perception and then risk perception increased behavioral intention. Analyzing the mediating relationships in the model, we found that media use had significant indirect effect on behavioral intention when attribution to a government and risk perception as mediators were used. The finding suggests that attribution to a government and risk perception are key mediators in the model.

Authors

• Hwalbin Kim, University of South Carolina

• Seung Mo Jang, U of South Carolina

• Sei-Hill Kim, U of South Carolina

• Jeong-Heon Chang

• Jae-chul C. Shim, Korea U