Testing the effects of a message framing intervention on intentions towards hearing loss prevention in adolescents.
Adolescent hearing loss is a public health problem that has eluded effective intervention. A persuasive message strategy was tested for its effectiveness on adolescents' intention to listen to music at a reduced volume. The messages manipulated both type of message frame [positive consequences of listening to music at a reduced volume (gain framed) versus negative consequences of not listening to music at a reduced volume (loss framed) and type of temporal context (short term versus long term consequences) Participants were recruited from four vocational and secondary education schools in the Netherlands and message exposure took place online during class hours. Two weeks prior to message exposure, adolescents provided data on intention and risk perception towards hearing loss and use of (digital) music players. After message exposure, 194 adolescents (mean age 14.71 years, SD 1.00, 37.8% males) provided immediate follow up data on intention. Results revealed that intention to listen to music at a reduced volume increased in those exposed to a loss framed message with short term consequences. No changes were found in the other conditions. Messages that emphasize negative short term consequences of not listening to music at a moderate volume have the ability to influence adolescents' intention towards hearing loss prevention.
Health education research