Joking about cancer as an avoidance strategy among US adults
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22945990 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nick Carcioppolo (0000-0002-2991-2965, Department of Communication Studies, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA, corresponding author), Kevin K John (0000-0003-2683-927X, Brigham Young University), Jakob D Jensen (0000-0002-6959-7090, Department of Communication, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA), Andrew J King (0000-0002-2789-2550, Texas Tech University), Andy J King (Texas Tech University) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 420-428 |
| Publication date | 2019-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Promotion International (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/heapro/dax087 |
| PMID | 29253126 |
| OpenAlex | W2773379781 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 39 |
Findings from years of research on fear appeals suggest that individuals with low efficacy utilize avoidance strategies when they perceive a significant threat—a process called fear control. Some research suggests that joking could be an avoidance strategy. The current study identifies conditions in which people are more likely to joke about colorectal cancer and explores how this behavior may be associated with screening avoidance. Older adults (N = 209) recruited from eight different worksites completed a survey measuring fear appeal constructs and enactment of colorectal cancer-related joking. Results of a moderated mediation analysis suggest that men were more likely to joke about colorectal cancer than women, particularly if they perceived significant threat but had limited self-efficacy, signifying fear control. Results support prior fear appeal research, suggesting that an increase in joking behavior concerning colorectal cancer may be indicative of screening avoidance, and describe belief-based mechanisms that explain differences between biological sex and joking.
Appeal · Cancer · Cancer prevention · Developmental psychology · Fear appeal · Joke · Mediation · Clinical Psychology · Communication in Education and Healthcare · Humor Studies and Applications · Media Influence and Health · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology
Fear Appeals and Persuasion
The Impact of Humor in Advertising
Predicting Risk Behaviors
A Meta-Analysis of Fear Appeals
Humor, laughter, and physical health
The significance of sense of humor, life regard, and stressors for bodily complaints among high school students
Positive and negative aspects of sense of humor
Sense of humor, physical health, and well-being at work
Humor is not always the best medicine
Sense of humor and physical health
Fear control and danger control
Sex, sex roles, and response styles for negative affect
Response styles to sadness are related to sex and sex-role orientation
Cancer Screening in US Workers
Community Reactions to a Syphilis Prevention Campaign for Gay and Bisexual Men in Los Angeles County
Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes
Humor as a Double-Edged Sword
Comparing tailored and narrative worksite interventions at increasing colonoscopy adherence in adults 50-75
Examining patterns of association with defensive information processing about colorectal cancer screening
"How can I Put this?" Exaggerated Self-Disparagement as Alignment Strategy during Problematic Disclosures by Patients to Doctors
The Role of Humor for Men with Testicular Cancer
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |