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Learning Healthy Sleep Behaviors: The Importance of Selection, Self-Concepts, and Social Comparison in Narrative Self-Education

Robinson, Melissa J

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Communication.
Individuals may attend to persuasive narratives in two manners: (1) through incidental narrative exposure where an individual is exposed to health messages in entertainment content inadvertently and (2) overt narrative exposure or narrative self-education (NSE) through seeking health information online in the form of narratives or testimonials. Health campaigns may utilize a NSE-perspective, tailoring testimonials according to key characteristics of target recipients. This study examines the importance of selection, tailoring, self-concepts, and social comparisons in NSE, testing predictions from social cognitive theory and the selective exposure self- and affect-management. It proposes a 3 (tailoring match vs. tailoring mismatch vs. selective exposure) x 2 (authoritarian/cry-it-out method vs. authoritative/graduated extinction method) experimental design, with the purpose of educating mothers on preschoolers’ ideal sleep hygiene habits and two methods to resolve common bedtime issues in the format of parent testimonials. Results indicated that tailoring testimonials according to participants’ reported parenting style did not enhance persuasive effects. Participants in both the tailored match and tailored mismatch conditions reported increased self-efficacy with respect to the sleep training methods. In the selective exposure condition, authoritative parenting style predicted selection of authoritative testimonials, but these testimonials reduced method self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Authoritarian testimonials were more effective in positively influencing relevant outcome variables for authoritative parents. Finally, this study demonstrated that social comparisons (i.e., self-evaluation and self-inspiration) are mechanisms of NSE.
Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick (Advisor)
Emily Moyer-Guse (Committee Member)
Amy Nathanson (Committee Member)
Michael Slater (Committee Member)
220 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Robinson, M. J. (2017). Learning Healthy Sleep Behaviors: The Importance of Selection, Self-Concepts, and Social Comparison in Narrative Self-Education [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492435342459696

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Robinson, Melissa. Learning Healthy Sleep Behaviors: The Importance of Selection, Self-Concepts, and Social Comparison in Narrative Self-Education. 2017. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492435342459696.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Robinson, Melissa. "Learning Healthy Sleep Behaviors: The Importance of Selection, Self-Concepts, and Social Comparison in Narrative Self-Education." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492435342459696

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)