Messages That Motivate: Communicating Alcohol-Related Breast Cancer Risk to Young Adult Women

Message Perceptions

We will assess message perceptions using a valid, reliable measure with six questions about whether participants thought the messages were worth remembering, grabbed their attention, and were informative, powerful, convincing, and meaningful. Responses are on a five-point Likert scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). For all message response outcomes, we will sum and average responses to the items to create message-level scores, then compute means across both messages within each condition for a grand mean. Higher values are considered a better outcome.

Time frame: This assessment is administered immediately after participants view study messages on Day 1

Effect Perceptions

We will capture message effects perceptions using the abbreviated effects perceptions scale. Items include questions about how much the messages made them feel discouraged to drink alcohol, concerned about drinking alcohol, and made them feel that drinking alcohol is unpleasant on a scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). For all message response outcomes, we will sum and average responses to the items to create message-level scores, then compute means across both messages within each condition for a grand mean. Higher values are considered a better outcome.

Time frame: This assessment is administered immediately after participants view study messages on Day 1

Emotional Response

We will capture emotional responses to the messages using a valid, four item scale. Items are "This message made me angry; irritated; aggravated; and annoyed" with responses on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Not likely at all) to 5 (Extremely likely). For all message response outcomes, we will sum and average responses to the items to create message-level scores, then compute means across both messages within each condition for a grand mean. Higher values are considered a better outcome.

Time frame: This assessment is administered immediately after participants view study messages on Day 1

Counter-arguing

We will capture counter-arguing, a measure of whether participants cognitively refute messages, with a valid, three item scale that captures whether participants criticize messages, think of points that go against messages, and are skeptical of the messages. Responses are on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Not at all) to 7 (Very much). For all message response outcomes, we will sum and average responses to the items to create message-level scores, then compute means across both messages within each condition for a grand mean. Lower values are considered a better outcome.

Time frame: This assessment is administered immediately after participants view study messages on Day 1

Behavioral Intentions

Intentions to reduce alcohol consumption in the future will also be assessed with a valid, multi-item scale capturing whether participants will avoid drinking alcohol completely, reduce the number of occasions when they drink alcohol, and reduce the amount of alcohol they consume on drinking occasions with a 1 (Definitely Will Not) to 4 (Definitely Will) response scale. For all message response outcomes, we will sum and average responses to the items to create message-level scores, then compute means across both messages within each condition for a grand mean. Higher values are considered a better outcome.

Time frame: This assessment is administered immediately after participants view study messages on Day 1