Effect of Relative Versus Absolute Quantitative Messages Regarding Suicide on the Perceived Severity of the Phenomenon.
Autor: Levi-Belz, Yossi; Gamliel, Eyal
Publication year: 2020
Omega
issn:1541-3764 0030-2228
doi: 10.1177/0030222818791715
Abstract:
Presentation of epidemiological information about the absolute number of suicides has been used occasionally to increase awareness of the suicide phenomenon. This study investigated the effectiveness of absolute quantitative messages versus relative messages. An example of relative messages would be comparing the number of suicide deaths with the number of deaths by car accidents. Participants were randomly presented with absolute or relative messages regarding suicide. They were then requested to indicate the degree of severity they attributed to the suicide phenomenon, being the level to which they view the phenomenon as sufficiently important to mandate national intervention and resource allocation. Relative messages proved more effective than absolute ones in yielding greater perceived severity of suicide. Increasing public and policymakers’ awareness of the suicide phenomenon could be aided by presenting information in relative terms.
Language: eng
Rights:
Pmid: 30079803
Tags: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Young Adult; Surveys and Questionnaires; Israel; *Public Health; decision-making; *Consumer Health Information; *Health Policy; elaboration likelihood model; judgment; perceived severity; relative versus absolute messages; Resource Allocation; suicide awareness; Suicide/*statistics & numerical data
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30079803/
