A new study in PLOS One analyzes tens of millions of tweets surrounding specific social protests and finds that a critical periphery of 'slacktivists' greatly amplify a movement's message, doubling its reach. The researchers argue that these peripheral players are essential to give protests resonance.
Researchers used brain imaging to predict the outcome of an anti-smoking email campaign sent to 800,000 smokers in New York State. The study found that brain activity in just 50 smokers was able to predict which messages would be effective at getting people to quit smoking.
A three-year study of 2,000 cancer survivors found that information needs differ depending on cancer type and stage. Breast cancer survivors sought more information about late effects and family risks in early years, while female colon cancer survivors increased their interest in these topics later on.
Researchers found that e-cigarette advertising with vaping visuals increased tobacco cravings in daily and former smokers. The study suggests that unregulated e-cigarette ad spending could lead to increased exposure to smoking cues, posing a public health risk. The findings are significant, considering the growing e-cigarette ad industry.
An analysis of 80,000 health web pages reveals that nine out of ten visits result in personal health information being leaked to third parties. This can lead to identity theft and discrimination due to predictive algorithms grouping individuals into categories.
Researchers found that self-affirmation increases activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, leading to a steeper decline in sedentary behaviors. The study showed that people who were affirmed before receiving health advice demonstrated higher brain activity and improved behavior change.
A year-long study found that increased knowledge of HPV vaccines did not lead to higher vaccination rates among adolescents. Only about 14% of participants were ultimately vaccinated. The study highlights the importance of targeted interventions and convenient vaccination options in increasing vaccine uptake.
A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that individuals with low dispositional attitudes (haters) spend more time on each activity than those with high dispositional attitudes (likers), despite doing fewer activities. This suggests that haters may be more focused and skilled in their chosen tasks.
A national survey found that 77% of adults are aware of e-cigarettes, up from 16% five years ago. However, the perception that e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco cigarettes decreased slightly, from 84 to 65 percent. The study also found no correlation between awareness and intention to quit smoking.
A study of nearly 4,000 college students in 19 countries found that neurotics have unfavorable attitudes towards action and favorable attitudes towards inaction. This association is primarily driven by anxiety, and collectivistic tendencies may also play a role.
A recent study found that individuals with multiple sex partners and heavy drinkers are less likely to enroll in HIV-prevention counseling. The researchers suggest that interventions targeting both STI prevention and alcohol use could be effective in reducing risk factors for HIV infection.
A new study published in AIDS Care found that pressure from counselors and perceived ineffectiveness of interventions can deter young adults from returning for follow-up sessions. The study suggests that tailoring interventions to individual needs, including delivering personalized information about HIV risk, can improve retention rates.
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that cancer patients seeking information from non-clinician sources were more likely to receive PET scans. The study suggests that exposure to cancer-related information and promotional materials may drive the use of unnecessary imaging procedures.
A new study found that political values significantly influence public response to health disparities messages, with liberals and conservatives differing in their reactions. The researchers suggest that advocacy strategies need to be tailored to the audience's composition and goals.
A Penn study found that online commentary, both positive and negative, degrades the impact of anti-smoking public service announcements. Viewers who watched PSAs with no commentary had better recall and rated them more effective overall.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania conducted a large-scale HIV intervention project in South Africa, involving nearly 1,200 individuals. The program showed significant improvements in condom use and reductions in unprotected sex among men, with participants reporting increased discussions about safe sex and condom use.
A new model of institutionalizing interdisciplinary research has been developed by a team of social and life scientists at the University of Pennsylvania. The collaboration aims to bring together researchers from diverse disciplines to understand how neural processes inform large-scale effects on populations.
A study of 4,000 volunteers from 19 countries found that East Asian cultures value action and inaction more equally, whereas Mediterranean societies overvalue action. This balance is beneficial for public service announcements and health awareness messages.
Researchers have discovered a new dimension of personality known as dispositional attitude, which affects how individuals view and interact with the world. People with positive dispositional attitudes tend to be more open and like things, whereas those with negative attitudes are more likely to dislike things.
Scientists at Penn's Annenberg School for Communication found that inaction-related words in the environment can influence self-control, triggering unconscious behavior to stop over-indulging. The study challenged traditional theories that inhibition requires conscious control.