Responses to persuasive messages encouraging professional help seeking for depression: comparison between individuals with and without psychological distress.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The persuasive effect of health messages can depend on message features, audience characteristics, and target behaviors. The objective of this study was to compare the responses to persuasive messages encouraging professional help seeking for depression between individuals with and without psychological distress.

Methods

A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted on Japanese adults aged 35-45 years, who randomly received one of three persuasive messages that aimed to promote help-seeking intentions for depression. The primary message statements were as follows: (1) depression can happen to anyone, (2) depression needs treatment, and (3) depression improves with treatment. Participants rated the messages in terms of comprehensibility, persuasiveness, emotiona

SUBMITTER: Suka M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6507167 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature