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Social media users are frequently targeted by commercial and political advertisements, which many perceive as a privacy threat. Although commercial and political targeting intend to influence users in different ways, comparative studies about user perceptions and responses to different kinds of targeting are scarce. Moreover, notwithstanding the legal obligation to make people aware of targeting in the European Union, current transparency cues do not immediately inform about the use of personal data. The present preregistered between-subjects online experiment (N = 1,248) investigates social media users' privacy perceptions and reactions to commercial and political targeting using an expanded protection motivation theory approach. Results revealed that more salient transparency cues can increase users' perception of ad manipulativeness, which in turn positively relates to privacy protection motivation. Perceiving privacy risks from targeting and protecting against it as effective positively relates to both protection motivation and desired legal regulation of targeting. Differences in perceptions of and reactions to commercial and political ads were marginal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the information security management research involving fear appeals is guided by either protection motivation theory or the extended parallel processing model. Over time, extant research has extended these theories, as well as their derivative theories, in a variety of ways, leading to several theoretical and empirical inconsistencies. The large body of fragmented, and sometimes conflicting, research has muddied the broader understanding of what drives protection- and defensive motivation. We provide guidance to the security discourse by offering the first study in the literature to employ two-stage meta-analytic structural equation modeling (TSSEM), which combines covariance-based structural equation modeling and meta-analysis. Information systems (IS) researchers have traditionally used meta-analysis for structural equation modeling for such purposes—an approach that has several serious statistical flaws. Using 341 systematically selected empirical security articles (representing 383 unique studies) and TSSEM, we pool a large series of five datasets to test six models, from which we examine the effects of constructs and paths in the security fear-appeals literature. We compare and test six versions of models inspired by issues in the broader fear-appeals literature. We confirm the importance of both the threat- and coping-appraisal processes; establish the central role of fear and that it has greater importance than threat; show that efficacy is a stronger predictor of protection motivation than is threat; demonstrate that response costs as currently measured are ineffective but that maladaptive rewards have a strong negative effect on protection motivation and a positive effect on defensive motivation; and provide evidence that dual models of danger control and fear control should be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the utility of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) for understanding diversity in adherence to COVID-19 behavioural guidelines. Methods and measures: A representative sample (N = 600) completed two online questionnaires: One that included measurements of PMT and TPB components that predict behaviour, and another (after one week) consisting of adherence to COVID-19 behavioural guidelines. TPB was represented by a single model, while PMT was represented by three models: Model 1, which did not include a measure of protection motivation; Model 2, which included protection motivation – represented by behavioural intentions; and Model 3, which was similar to Model 2 and included a direct link from self-efficacy to behaviour. Results: The TPB model displayed the best fit-to-complexity ratio (i.e. information criterion), and its capacity to explain adherence was similar to PMT Models 1 and 2, but lower than Model 3. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need to reach a consensus regarding the definition and measurement of protection motivation. While the TPB model exhibited superior fit-to-complexity ratio, variance was better explained when self-efficacy was included, and interventions may benefit from targeting different constructs depending on the context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the emergence of COVID-19, the tourism industry changed drastically and experienced a considerable decline. Thus, this study explored the impact of social media during COVID-19 on revisit intentions with the mediating effect of brand commitment and brand happiness based on protection motivation theory (PMT). Survey-based quantitative data was gathered from the tourists, and data analysis was done on SPSS and AMOS. The results exhibit that social media during COVID-19 has a significant positive relationship with revisit intentions, brand commitment, and brand happiness. The study also showed that brand commitment and brand happiness have a significant positive relationship with revisit intentions. The study has also demonstrated a significant positive mediating effect of brand commitment and brand happiness between social media during COVID-19 and revisit intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Playing the lottery is considered a public health concern in many countries due to financial losses associated with it, but also due to other harmful health and social problems. Focus of the article: Informed by both theory and practice, this article focuses on developing lottery ticket warning messages targeting players harmed by excessive spending to promote sustainable behavior change. Research Question: What should be communicated in lottery ticket warning messages targeting people at risk to facilitate behavior change and maintain it? Approach: We bridge the gap between theory and practice and illustrate how theoretical models and current communications can shape messages. Specifically, we identify and examine lottery ticket warning messages and analyze their relative congruence to prevailing theories to assess the potential effectiveness of the messages and to recommend warning labels for lottery tickets. In addition, we incorporate knowledge used by cognitive psychologists in counselling to create warnings more likely to motivate and sustain behavior change. Importance to the Social Marketing Field: Merging academic theory with existent communications ensures better knowledge translation and potentially better outcomes. Introducing verified techniques from Cognitive Behavior Therapy into social marketing initiatives could be a step forward into triggering behavior change. Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify and select theoretical models appropriate to guide communications for lottery tickets harmful consumption. Searches were conducted to identify initiatives aiming at persuading and helping at-risk individuals to change their behavior in a healthy manner. Social marketing campaign messages were then compared with theoretical paradigms to identify ways in which campaign messages could be improved. Results: Results show campaign messages were relatively consistent with some aspects of the theoretical models. Warning messages provide information that is relevant to the target audience and describe the severity and vulnerability of irresponsible consumption. They also attempt to decrease perceived costs and increase perceived self-efficacy in a variety of ways. Some also attempt to modify cognitive distortions the audience has in respect to chances of winning. However, initiatives should also increase consumers' perceptions of the response-efficacy by emphasizing their agency, and further enhance individuals' perception of self-efficacy by incorporating strategies from the Cognitive Model. Recommendations for Research and Practice: Academics and practitioners can build on each other's knowledge on an ongoing basis. By making it default to always consider both theory and practice, initiatives are likely to become more effective. Managers responsible for developing warning messages and implementing social marketing campaigns can experiment with the various theoretical approaches to determine which are comparatively more effective for their situations. Limitations: Future research is needed to test the comparative effectiveness of these theories as a basis of creating persuasive warning messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Integrated pest management (IPM) is recognized as a sustainable approach to pest control. However, adoption rates among farmers in Iran have been observed to be low. This study investigates the adoption of IPM practices among citrus farmers in Iran and assesses the applicability of the protection motivation theory (PMT) in explaining farmers' behavior towards IPM. RESULTS: Overall, farmers reported poor levels of IPM use, paying attention only to monitoring practices among the three groups of IPM practices examined (prevention, monitoring, and suppression). The perceived severity of the consequences of chemical pest control (β = 0.389, P < 0.001), the response efficacy of IPM practices (β = 0.254, P < 0.001), and the perceived self‐efficacy of using IPM practices (β = 0.199, P < 0.001) positively predicted adoption of IPM practices, while response cost/barriers of IPM practices (β = −0.355, P < 0.001) negatively predicted adoption of IPM practices. CONCLUSION: The PMT model presents a unique and interesting perspective to understand if and how IPM practices against the threat of pests are motivated. The perceived severity of the consequences of chemical pest control showed the strongest positive effect, whereas the response cost/barriers of IPM practices showed the strongest negative effect on IPM adoption. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of learning first aid knowledge on social media has gained considerable attention as a strategy for improving public health. Yet despite this recognition, the practice has not drawn commensurate academic attention. Different from individual health protection behavior, first aid knowledge learning is a collective preventive health behavior due to its collective attributes of protecting the health of others. To address the behavior, we extend the protection motivation theory (PMT) with a mixed-methods approach. Specifically, our qualitative study allows us to clarify the motivations for the behavior, confirm the applicability of PMT in this new context, and identify self- and collective cognition as well as other contextualized factors. The subsequent quantitative study validates the effect of these motivations, with the results indicating that collective cognition shows stronger effects than self-cognition in such a collective behavior context, and emotions (i.e. anticipated regret) play a significant mediating role between cognitive appraisals and protective behaviors. This study extends the health behavior literature and expands PMT by validating self- and collective dimensions. It also offers practical guidelines to practitioners on how to motivate individuals to learn first aid knowledge on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Government employees must comply with policies on information security regulations, online security practices, social networking usage, internet addiction, online cyberthreats and other related habits. These activities are considered cybersecurity behaviors. Government social media (GSM) accounts are increasingly used to educate employees about cybersecurity risks. To support the effectiveness of cybersecurity practices in government organizations, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of GSM and organizational policy compliance on employees' cybersecurity awareness, motivation and behaviors. Design/methodology/approach: Data were obtained by administering a questionnaire survey to public personnel in Vietnam. A total of 330 valid responses were obtained, and the research hypotheses were tested using partial least squares–structural equation modeling. Findings: First, cybersecurity awareness enhances information protection motivation and employee protective behavior. Second, GSM has positive impacts on cybersecurity knowledge and information protection motivation. Third, there is a strong positive association between information protection motivation and employee protective behavior. Finally, while organizational compliance significantly increases cybersecurity awareness, its impact on employee protective behavior is ind irect. Originality/value: This research enhances the literature on the behavioral dimension of cybersecurity. The primary objective of this study is to assess the influence of cybersecurity awareness on protective behaviors rather than intents and attitudes alone. Furthermore, this research integrates protection motivation theory and cultivation theory to provide a more thorough assessment of cybersecurity awareness and protective behavior. By investigating the impact of GSM on the level of cybersecurity awareness among employees within government organizations, this study provides valuable insights into the efficacy of recent governmental initiatives aimed at fostering cybersecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Globally, hypertension is a significant public health concern and a leading cause of premature death. Since this disease is incurable, it is necessary to promote patients' self-care behaviors to control it. The goal of this research was to identify the elements that influence self-care actions in individuals with hypertension, utilizing the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) framework. Methods: A study was carried out in Omidiyeh, located in southern Iran, using a cross-sectional design, involving 397 adults with hypertension (198 females and 199 males) who were selected from comprehensive health centers using a stratified random sampling technique. Data was gathered through a demographic data collection form and a questionnaire created by the researcher, which was based on the PMT. Data were assessed utilizing SPSS 25 and AMOS 24 software, and various statistical tests including one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, independent t-test, and structural equation modeling were conducted. Findings: The variables of intrinsic reward (r = 0.182), extrinsic reward (r = 0.288), and response cost (r = 0.126) showed a significant negative correlation with self-care behaviors. On the other hand, perceived susceptibility (r = 0.212), perceived severity (r = 0.110), self-efficacy (r = 0.555), and response efficacy (r = 0.424) demonstrated a significant positive correlation with self-care behaviors. Specifically, self-efficacy and response efficacy were the most powerful predictors of self-care behaviors, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that several factors can forecast self-care behaviors in patients with hypertension. Researchers are recommended to incorporate PMT in educational interventions and concentrate on self-efficacy and response efficacy constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper summarizes data from 7 studies that used Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to guide climate messaging with the goal of increasing climate-mitigating behavioral intentions. Together, the studies address 5 research questions. 1) Does PMT predict behavioral intentions in the context of climate change mitigation? 2) Does PMT work similarly for climate change deniers vs acknowledgers? 3) Are the effects of threat and efficacy additive or multiplicative? 4) Does adding measures of collective threat and efficacy improve the model accuracy for a collective problem like climate change? 5) Can threat and efficacy appraisals – and ultimately behavioral intentions – be shifted through climate messaging? Methods: Seven online experiments were conducted on US adults (N = 3,761) between 2020 and 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to a control condition or to one of several experimental conditions designed to influence threat, efficacy, or both. Participants indicated their belief in climate change, ethnicity, gender, and political orientation. They completed measures of personal threat and efficacy, collective threat and efficacy, and behavioral intentions. Results: Multiple regressions, ANCOVAs, and effect sizes were used to evaluate our research questions. Consistent with PMT, threat and efficacy appraisals predicted climate mitigation behavioral intentions, even among those who denied climate change. Different interactions emerged for climate deniers and acknowledgers, suggesting that in this context threat and efficacy are not just additive in their effects (but these effects were small). Including measures of collective threat and efficacy only modestly improved the model. Finally, evidence that threat and efficacy appraisals can be shifted was weak and inconsistent; mitigation behavioral intentions were not reliably influenced by the messages tested. Conclusions: PMT effectively predicts climate change mitigation behavioral intentions among US adults, whether they deny climate change or acknowledge it. Threat appraisals may be more impactful for deniers, while efficacy appraisals may be more impactful for acknowledgers. Including collective-level measures of threat and efficacy modestly improves model fit. Contrary to PMT research in other domains, threat and efficacy appraisals were not easily shifted under the conditions tested here, and increases did not reliably lead to increases in behavioral intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the adoption of indoor air quality (IAQ) management technologies in Germany and Portugal, focusing on the common and differentiating factors influencing individuals' motivations and the perceived health impacts of these technologies. Utilizing a model based on the protection motivation theory, we surveyed 800 participants (400 from each country) to understand how their perceptions of the risks associated with poor IAQ and their evaluations of the effectiveness and costs of technologies like air purifiers and sensors drive the adoption intention of these technologies and well‐being of individuals. To estimate the complex relationships in our model, we employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM). Our model explains nearly 50% of the variance in well‐being for both countries. The results revealed significant differences in the factors driving technology adoption: Germans are primarily motivated by individual efficacy and personal responsibility with the people close to them. Regarding the similarities, participants from both countries value the technology's effectiveness in improving IAQ and do not see being vulnerable to health issues derived from poor IAQ as a motivator. These insights highlight the need for strategies that are tailored to specific cultural and national contexts to promote the adoption of IAQ management technologies, aiming to enhance IAQ and public health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection motivation theory is a pre-eminent health behaviour theory purposed to predict participation in health protection and risk behaviours. It has been widely applied across multiple behaviours, populations and contexts. In this conceptual review, we summarise research applying the theory and identify shortcomings and evidence gaps that limit reported inferences and impede theory and intervention development. Accordingly, we provide recommendations for best practices and suggestions for future research to resolve these limitations. Limitations identified include a dearth of comprehensive theory tests, sparse evidence of theory sufficiency, a lack of studies including additional constructs, overuse of correlational and cross-sectional research designs, a paucity of intervention studies and tests of theory-consistent mechanisms of action, few tests intrapersonal and environmental moderators of theory effects and measurement concerns. We provide recommendations to address these limitations including conducting comprehensive theory tests in support of nomological validity; incorporating past behaviour and other constructs to establish theory sufficiency and extend its scope; adopting cross-lagged panel and factorial experimental research designs to test directional effects, permit better causal inference and test mechanisms of action; testing effects of moderators to identify conditions that may affect theory applicability and developing measurement standards for study constructs and adopting non-self-report behaviour measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates information security behaviors among university students, focusing on the interplay of psychological and social factors influencing their behavioral intentions and actions. By integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior, Protection Motivation Theory, and General Deterrence Theory, the research offers a comprehensive understanding of factors such as self-efficacy, perceived risk vulnerability, response cost, and response efficacy. Utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA), the study assesses the impact of these factors on students’ information security practices. Measurement items were developed based on recent empirical studies, ensuring relevance to the contemporary digital environment. The findings reveal significant associations between these factors and students’ security behaviors, providing insights into effective strategies for promoting information security awareness and practices. This research contributes to the academic discourse on digital security behaviors and offers practical implications for enhancing information security measures within university settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethods and MeasuresResultsConclusionStudies have shown that healthcare innovation adoption is complex. Using Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), an innovation for malaria prevention, the study aimed to understand factors considered in the adoption of healthcare innovations in Africa.Using qualitative methods, we interviewed 10 household heads in Ghana who had freely received LLINs during a malaria campaign. We analyzed our data using a deductive thematic analysis approach utilizing the protection motivation theory (PMT) as our framework.We found that the constructs of PMT: perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, perceived response efficacy, and perceived self-efficacy influenced the adoption of healthcare innovation (i.e. LLINs). We also found that misconceptions about malaria infection and prevention influenced the perceived response efficacy of LLINs which could undermine LLINs usage.The constructs of PMT are important in the decision to use LLINs. Misconceptions about malaria infection and prevention could undermine the decision to use LLINs. Future studies should investigate ways to address these misconceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with increased health awareness and the advent of the information age, online health popular science information (OHPSI) has received more attention. However, it is unknown how the lots of online health information influences users to change unhealthy behavioral habits. Therefore, based on the psychological distance perspective, our research investigated the effect of viewing online health information on users' willingness to change their health behaviors in the future. In addition, this study also introduced the protection motivation theory to further investigate the mediating effect of protection motivation in the mechanisms of psychological distance in online health information. The data of the study were obtained by the research method of questionnaire survey and the proposed hypotheses were validated using Smartpls software. 87.28% of the respondents in this study's survey sample were aged 18–40 years old, and people in this age group have higher pressure from study and work, and live a fast-paced life with less free time, which makes them more likely to pay attention to OHPSI to improve their health. Therefore, the age group of the sample of this study is in line with the research purpose of this paper, which is conducive to enhancing the authenticity and reliability of the conclusions of this study. The conclusions of the study showed that the temporal, social, hypothetical and experiential distances in psychological distance can positively influence users' self-protection motivation. And protection motivation has a positive effect on users' willingness to change health behaviors. In addition, protection motivation can completely mediate the influence of psychological distance on users' willingness to change health behaviors after viewing online health information. The research not only expands the scope of application of construal level theory and protection motivation theory, but also has significant impact for creators of OHPSI and public health departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFunctional fermented foods are increasingly recognized for their positive impact on human health, and this study aims to identify the factors that influence these products’ consumption in Iran. The study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the conceptual model incorporating the theory of planned behavior (TPB), protection motivation theory (PMT), and flow theory (FT). Data from 319 individuals having prior experience with such foods were analyzed to test the hypothesized relationships. Based on the results, the integrated model components demonstrated a strong predictive power, explaining 70.6% of the variance in functional fermented food consumption. The study found that perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, and response cost from the PMT were the main drivers of functional fermented food consumption among Iranians. The study also offers practical insights, including highlighting health benefits, promoting pleasurable aspects, and mitigating accessibility challenges to these foods for Iranian consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perception of health risks can influence people's health behaviors. However, in the context of modern consumer society, few people delve into in-depth discussions on health consumption as a form of health protection behavior. Inspired by the Health Belief Model and Protection Motivation Theory, this study interprets health consumption behavior as a new form of health protection behavior. A survey was conducted on a sample of Chinese youth (N = 885) to explore the mechanisms of action between health risk perception and health consumption behavior using structural equation modeling. The study found that: (1) health risk perception has a significant positive impact on the health consumption behavior of young people; (2) negative emotions and information seeking play mediating roles respectively in the mechanism of the impact of health risk perception on health consumption behavior; and (3) in addition to their individual mediating roles, negative emotions and information seeking behavior collectively play a chained mediation role in this process. Implications of these results, both theoretical and practical, are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self-care is becoming increasingly popular due to rising medical costs, isolation from family, and rising hospital infections. Therefore, the current research aimed to investigate the impact of psychological intervention training based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) on the self-care of patients with myocardial infarction (Ml). Methods: The current study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative section was quasi-experimental, with pre-test and post-test design and control group. In 2021, 106 patients with Ml were selected for statistical analysis at Ibn Al-Bitar Specialized Hospital for Cardiac Surgery in Baghdad, Iraq. Using SPSS software, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used to examine the normality of the distribution of the variables, Levene's test was utilized to investigate the equality of variances, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was utilized to evaluate the study. Results: The results of a one-way ANCOVA indicated that the subscales, including proper diet (F = 42.53, P < 0.001), non-smoking (F = 7.81, P < 0.001), physical activity (F = 55.96, P < 0.001), adherence to prescribed medication regimen (F = 91.65, P < 0.001), and adjusting the effect of stressful variables (F = 27.74, P < 0.001) improved significantly. Conclusion: PMT, by improving various aspects and subscales of self-care in patients with Ml, can be used as an effective educational intervention to help improve these patients' lifestyles and return them as quickly as possible to normal life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results Discussion Conclusion During the coronavirus pandemic, misinformation was circulated through technology and social media on a large scale. Since people rely on media to keep connected and informed, misinformation can prevent them from staying safe.To examine the quality of information reaching Pakistanis, the effect of information/misinformation on people's perception, and its relationship with risky health behaviours in different demographical groups.A community sample of N= 103 Pakistanis was assessed using a mixed‐method cross‐sectional survey research design to investigate their sources of knowledge/information, perceptions of coronavirus‐related facts, and risky health behaviours.Content analysis of the material that participants read/watched indicated the possible effect of media on people's perception of COVID‐19. Specific demography (e.g., increasing age) and people's tendency to believe misinformation/information may indicate risky health behaviours pertaining to coronavirus infection.Findings showed how the models considered (social cognitive theory, biological warfare conspiracy theory, theory of planned behaviour, protection motivation theory, the health belief model, and biopsychosocial model) may be relevant to examination of the effects of misinformation on different demographic groups.The findings and models need to be verified on larger, more representative samples of Pakistanis using a large‐scale survey based on the insights obtained from this pilot study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Design Methods Results Conclusions Physical distancing and handwashing can be important infection prevention measures during an infectious disease outbreak such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. To stimulate these behaviours, knowledge of psychosocial determinants as well as contextual factors is vital. We present longitudinal, within‐person analyses of the impact of contextual and psychosocial factors on handwashing and distancing behaviour.We used individual‐level data (186,490 participants completing 971,899 surveys) from the Corona Behavioural Unit COVID‐19 Cohort, a dynamic cohort study conducted during 26 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Netherlands.Fixed‐effects models were employed to estimate within‐person associations between psychosocial factors and behaviour, combined with main and moderating effects of contextual factors.Pandemic severity was associated with more handwashing and distancing behaviour, while the duration of the pandemic had little effect. Within‐person changes in response efficacy were most relevant for changes in both handwashing and distancing behaviour, while self‐efficacy, descriptive norms and perceived severity of infecting others affected behaviour indirectly. These effects were stable over time. Associations were larger in cross‐sectional models, indicating that such models tend to overestimate effects.Our study highlights the importance of longitudinal data and within‐person models to detect possible causal associations. The results suggest that during an outbreak, government and public health professionals should clearly communicate the severity of the pandemic (e.g., hospitalization rates) and the effectiveness of recommended prevention measures in reducing that risk; and seek to improve people's capabilities and opportunities to adhere to guidelines, for example, by modifying the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea level rise induced flooding is projected to cause significant damage to the low-lying coastal areas of many countries around the planet. Many households located in vulnerable areas have already started to adapt to flooding, although some empirical studies indicate that informal adaptation is reaching its limit and that more formal countermeasures by governments will be necessary to cope with the increased flood risks. In such cases, public support for flood adaptation policy is crucial to ensure a successful and timely adaptation, as these strategies can directly affect coastal residents. However, there is limited understanding on the mechanisms and factors that determine public support for flood adaptation policy. Thus, this study proposes a new model – the Foundation of Adaptation Policy Support (FAPS) – which integrates the Protection Motivation Theory and the Risk Information Seeking and Processing models. FAPS was tested using structural equation modelling with latent variables and data that was collected from a household questionnaire survey conducted in the Tokyo lowland areas (n = 388), with the super levee representing a policy that could be applied to sea level rise adaptation. The proposed FAPS model showed a good fit with the collected data, indicating that the strongest predictors of policy support include the perceived effectiveness of the policy and the importance of the issue of flooding to individuals. Other important predictors of policy support include knowledge about flooding, the opinions of surrounding people (i.e. family and friends), and the systematic processing by respondents of information related to floods. The FAPS model sets the foundation for understanding the mechanisms of public support for adaptation policy and provides new insights into designing and planning such policies in practice. Key policy insights Perceived policy effectiveness and the importance of addressing floods are the strongest predictors of public support for adaptation policy. Increasing people's knowledge about flooding is essential to communicate the importance of adaptation policy. Investigating people's knowledge and the perceived importance of the issue of flooding prior to designing policies can predict public preferences for certain countermeasures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe ever-increasing number of data breaches targeting user credentials has become undeniable reality in our digital age. Although there are third-party breach notification services (e.g., Have I Been Pwned, Firefox Monitor) that allow users to check whether their credentials have been involved in data breaches, the number of users who are aware of or use such services may be limited. To better inform users about the breach status of their accounts, we designed a prototype registration system where the website uses readily available information (e.g., email address) to check whether this account was involved in a data breach, and then inform the user about the breach status of the email address while signing up for a website. We investigated the effectiveness of this system by performing an online study (n = 373) in which participants were asked to register to a mock-up website that presented them with a data breach notification based on Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). We found that 64% of participants were exposed in one or more breaches. A follow-up survey, 3 days after the initial survey, was conducted to determine if there were any behavior changes (e.g., changing passwords) of participants whose accounts were involved in some data breaches. We found that 40% of the participants changed their passwords on their some accounts. Finally, we present our qualitative data analysis to shed light on participants’ motivations behind their decisions as well as their perceptions of the integration of our prototype registration system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses the importance of cybersecurity and the need for organizational scientists to focus on the "human factor" in cybersecurity research. It highlights recent examples of cyberattacks and data breaches, emphasizing the impact on organizations and individuals. The text also mentions a special issue on cybersecurity in the Journal of Business and Psychology, summarizing three articles accepted for publication. It concludes by discussing patterns in the citing articles and suggesting areas for future research in the intersection of organizational science and cybersecurity. [Extracted from the article]

In response to the increasing global concerns about food waste and its effects on human communities, the present study aims to identify food waste behavior antecedents for households during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. An integrated framework was proposed grounded on the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Protection Motivation Theory. Based on a survey with 405 respondents, the underlying determinants of food waste behavior among Iranian households were identified and data were analyzed with Covariance based Structural Equation Modeling. In this study, perceived behavioral control, attitude, and coping appraisal were found to impact households' intention to reduce food waste positively. Conversely, subjective norms and threat appraisal were not found to positively impact such intention. Furthermore, a slight negative effect of the intention to reduce food waste on this FW reduction behavior was observed. The threat of COVID-19 infection did not influence consumers' intention to reduce food waste, nor did the opinion of close friends and family. This study fills a theoretical research gap in food waste behavioral studies by proposing a novel integrated framework based on the Protection Motivation Theory, which is deemed suitable under high-risk contexts such as pandemics. Moreover, the results provide relevant implications for managers, policymakers, and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upon lifting lockdown measures, pent-up consumer demand resulted in a phenomenon known as "revenge-buying" that was influenced by cognitive and habitual factors. This study collected 629 samples from Beijing consumers using straightforward online random sampling methods, ensuring the sample's representativeness. Structural equation modeling was employed to investigate the impact of cognitive factors on revenge-buying after lockdowns and explain this phenomenon from the consumers' habitual behavior perspective. Specifically, we developed a novel model that incorporates insights from the concept of attitudes and habits literature within the framework of the protection motivation theory to address this research question. The results reveal that habit significantly affects all cognitive factors, except response cost. Cognitive factors such as perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, response efficacy, self-efficacy, and response cost all play a role in shaping consumers' attitudes and driving revenge-buying behavior. Furthermore, consumers' habits contribute significantly to their likelihood of revenge-buying. This study provides empirical evidence for revenge-buying, and the proposed theoretical model offers a more complete understanding of the cognitive factors and habits that drive this behavior. These findings can help businesses to attract consumers, improve satisfaction, and better compete in the context of revenge-buying, ultimately benefiting both consumers and businesses involved in this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve preparedness for natural disasters, it is imperative to understand the factors that enable individual risk‐reduction actions. This study offers such insights using innovative real‐time (N = 871) and repeated (N = 255) surveys of a sample of coastal residents in Florida regarding flood preparations and their drivers during an imminent threat posed by Hurricane Dorian and its aftermath. Compared with commonly employed cross‐sectional surveys, our methodology better represents relationships between preparedness actions undertaken during the disaster threat and their drivers derived from an extended version of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The repeated survey allows for examining temporal dynamics in these drivers. Our results confirm the importance of coping appraisals and show that risk perceptions relate more strongly to emergency protection decisions made during the period of the disaster threat than to decisions made well before. Moreover, we find that several personal characteristics that we add to the standard PMT framework significantly relate to undertaking preparedness actions, especially locus of control and social norms. Significant changes in key explanatory variables occur following the disaster threat, including a decline in risk perception, a potential learning effect in coping appraisals, and a decline in risk aversion. Our results confirm the advantage of the real‐time and repeated survey approach in understanding both short‐ and long‐term disaster preparedness actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Globally, hypertension is a significant public health concern and a leading cause of premature death. Since this disease is incurable, it is necessary to promote patients’ self-care behaviors to control it. The goal of this research was to identify the elements that influence self-care actions in individuals with hypertension, utilizing the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) framework. Methods A study was carried out in Omidiyeh, located in southern Iran, using a cross-sectional design, involving 397 adults with hypertension (198 females and 199 males) who were selected from comprehensive health centers using a stratified random sampling technique. Data was gathered through a demographic data collection form and a questionnaire created by the researcher, which was based on the PMT. Data were assessed utilizing SPSS 25 and AMOS 24 software, and various statistical tests including one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, independent t-test, and structural equation modeling were conducted. Findings The variables of intrinsic reward (r = 0.182), extrinsic reward (r = 0.288), and response cost (r = 0.126) showed a significant negative correlation with self-care behaviors. On the other hand, perceived susceptibility (r = 0.212), perceived severity (r = 0.110), self-efficacy (r = 0.555), and response efficacy (r = 0.424) demonstrated a significant positive correlation with self-care behaviors. Specifically, self-efficacy and response efficacy were the most powerful predictors of self-care behaviors, respectively. Conclusion The results showed that several factors can forecast self-care behaviors in patients with hypertension. Researchers are recommended to incorporate PMT in educational interventions and concentrate on self-efficacy and response efficacy constructs.

Abstract Background This paper summarizes data from 7 studies that used Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to guide climate messaging with the goal of increasing climate-mitigating behavioral intentions. Together, the studies address 5 research questions. 1) Does PMT predict behavioral intentions in the context of climate change mitigation? 2) Does PMT work similarly for climate change deniers vs acknowledgers? 3) Are the effects of threat and efficacy additive or multiplicative? 4) Does adding measures of collective threat and efficacy improve the model accuracy for a collective problem like climate change? 5) Can threat and efficacy appraisals – and ultimately behavioral intentions – be shifted through climate messaging? Methods Seven online experiments were conducted on US adults (N = 3,761) between 2020 and 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to a control condition or to one of several experimental conditions designed to influence threat, efficacy, or both. Participants indicated their belief in climate change, ethnicity, gender, and political orientation. They completed measures of personal threat and efficacy, collective threat and efficacy, and behavioral intentions. Results Multiple regressions, ANCOVAs, and effect sizes were used to evaluate our research questions. Consistent with PMT, threat and efficacy appraisals predicted climate mitigation behavioral intentions, even among those who denied climate change. Different interactions emerged for climate deniers and acknowledgers, suggesting that in this context threat and efficacy are not just additive in their effects (but these effects were small). Including measures of collective threat and efficacy only modestly improved the model. Finally, evidence that threat and efficacy appraisals can be shifted was weak and inconsistent; mitigation behavioral intentions were not reliably influenced by the messages tested. Conclusions PMT effectively predicts climate change mitigation behavioral intentions among US adults, whether they deny climate change or acknowledge it. Threat appraisals may be more impactful for deniers, while efficacy appraisals may be more impactful for acknowledgers. Including collective-level measures of threat and efficacy modestly improves model fit. Contrary to PMT research in other domains, threat and efficacy appraisals were not easily shifted under the conditions tested here, and increases did not reliably lead to increases in behavioral intentions.

Background and Objective: Influenza is one of the most common infectious diseases in the respiratory system. Preventive measures are considered one of the most important and necessary strategies to control this disease. The present study aimed to assess the factors related to the prevention of influenza among female high school students based on the protection motivation theory in Hamedan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 303 female high school students in Hamadan. The participants were selected by multistage sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire designed by Sharifi-Rad et al. and completed by the self-reporting method. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and linear regression with a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants in the research was 16.79±0.95 years. Only 26.10% of participants had a history of influenza vaccination. Moreover, 186 cases had information about the flu, and the Internet was identified as the most abundant source of information. Based on the results, the various constructs of protection motivation theory explained 58.30% of the variance of the intention to perform preventive behavior and 30.30% of the variance of performing the behavior in the studied students. Conclusion: In conclusion, the various constructs of the protection motivation theory have a good fit for predicting the intention and performing disease-preventive behaviors.

Introduction: Protection motivation theory is one of the most effective theories in predicting preventive behaviors. It first emphasizes motivation and then the development of adaptive skills. This theory is used to understand and predict health intentions and behaviors that protect a person from traumatic events. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group training based on protection motivation theory in the lifestyle, negative thoughts, and dysfunctional attitudes of depressed people. Material & Methods: In this study, we adopted a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population was all clients suffering from mild to moderate depression who visited the Ghaemshahr Help Center in the spring of 1402. Considering that 15-20 people are used in group training, a number of 40 people in two experimental groups and controls were selected by the available sampling method and answered the health-promoting lifestyle questionnaires of Walker and colleagues (1987), Weisman and Beck's dysfunctional attitudes by Wiseman and Beck (1978), and Kendall and Hollon's (1980) negative self-concepts. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, multivariate covariance analysis, and univariate covariance analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of the analysis of covariance demonstrated that the mean scores of lifestyles, negative spontaneous thoughts, and ineffective attitudes in experimental and control groups had a statistically significant difference of less than 1% (P=0.01). Moreover, the post-test mean scores of negative self-inflicted thoughts and ineffective attitudes of subjects in the experimental group under self-protection motivation training decreased compared to the control group who were not under training. Furthermore, the effect size for group membership for lifestyle was equal to (Eta=0.83), for negative spontaneous thoughts, it was equal to (Eta=0.69), and for ineffective attitudes, it was equal to (Eta=0.62). Discussion & Conclusion: Self-protection motivation training is effective in improving lifestyle and reducing negative self-esteem and ineffective attitudes of depressed people. According to the nature of the protection motivation theory, it is suggested to be used to improve the lifestyle, negative thoughts, and ineffective attitude of depressed people.

Background: The cervical cancer (CC) incidence rate is increasing among young women aged <50 years despite early screening is proven effective. Electronic health (e-health) has great potential for disseminating health education. Methods: This study validated a newly developed e-health tool "SeDAR®" and assessed its usability via evaluations by health experts (HE), media experts (ME), and women. The SeDAR® content was developed based on protection motivation theory (PMT) using the nominal group technique and in-depth interviews that involved HE and women, respectively. Content validation was performed among the HE (n = 12) and ME (n = 5) using the content validation index (CVI) to identify their agreement. Subsequently, the Video Engagement Scale (VES®) was used to validate SeDAR® among women of different ethnicities (n = 11) to achieve ecological validity. The experts and women also commented on the presentation of the video. Results: The validation yielded a good CVI among the HE (scale-level CVI-average [SCVI/Ave] = 0.986; scale-level CVI-universal agreement [SCVI/UA] = 0.900) and ME (SCVI/Ave = 0.979, SCVI/UA = 0.897). The highest VES® score [mean (±SD) = 92.90(±3.46)] proved the ecological validity of SeDAR®. The experts' feedback established that SeDAR® conveyed a clear message about awareness of performing CC screening and was suitable for public viewing. The women considered SeDAR® easy to understand, and it advised early exposure for early CC screening. Conclusions: SeDAR® was valid and could constitute an important e-health tool to improve motivation and uptake of CC screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, health risk attitude and health locus of control were included as dispositional factors in the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to explain people's protective behavior in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Empirical data involved two waves of data with a sample of 526 adults with full-time jobs from Beijing, China, and structural equation model results confirmed a partial successful extension of the PMT. Specifically, health risk attitude had a direct effect on citizens' protective behavior, but without an indirect effect mediated by threat appraisal toward the COVID-19 pandemic; health locus of control did not directly associate with citizens' protective behavior, but had an indirect effect on it fully via coping appraisal toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the PMT has been extended by adding a distal dispositional factor on the impact of coping appraisal on protective behavior. Implications for advancing the government's anti-epidemic strategy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons with disabilities (PwDs) face a disproportionately high risk due to their physical or mental limitations and socioeconomic barriers during emergencies. To better understand and empower PwDs for disaster preparedness, this study used an updated national representative survey (2021 Federal Emergency Management Agency National Household Survey) from the United States to examine the differences between PwDs and their counterparts concerning disaster preparedness with the guidance of the protection motivation theory. The results of the Tobit regression models indicated that being disabled was negatively correlated with the level of preparedness. Furthermore, disability status significantly and negatively modified the relationship between risk perception and disaster preparedness. Likewise, self‐efficacy was less strongly correlated with preparedness activities if people self‐reported themselves as having a disability. Moreover, for people with disabilities, their beliefs about the effectiveness of preventive behaviours (response efficacy) predicted decreased adoption of preparedness measures. Promoting disaster risk reduction education, strengthening self‐efficacy and developing more inclusive and targeted intervention strategies for PwDs can be used to improve their preparedness degree and capacity for disaster prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aimed to prospectively examine the explanatory value of the protection motivation theory (PMT) for the intention to use manner of drinking protective behavioral strategies (MD PBS) and to explore its invariance across genders. Method A targeted sampling procedure was used to recruit 339 young adults in the community (M age = 21.1; SD = 2.21; female = 50.7%) who completed baseline and 2-month follow-up measures of the PMT constructs and intentions to use each of the five MD PBS. Results Regression analyses revealed that the coping appraisal components (response efficacy and self-efficacy) had greater explanatory power for the intention to use MD PBS than the threat appraisal components (perceived vulnerability and perceived severity). Perceived vulnerability to alcohol consequences was not prospectively associated with any specific behavioral intention or with the total MD PBS score. In contrast, perceived severity was prospectively associated with the intention to use three out of five PBS and the total MD score. Regression coefficients revealed gender invariance for all six models. Conclusions Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at encouraging young adults to use alcohol MD PBS would be most effective if they included components that enhance self-efficacy in using these strategies and emphasize their perceived usefulness in reducing alcohol-related consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Respiratory illnesses resulting from dust exposure have a long history as occupational diseases, constituting approximately 60% of work-related health issues. The aim of this research was to employ the protection motivation theory in examining the proper utilization of respirators by employees at the Alumina Company of Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 430 workers from the Alumina Company of Iran who were selected as a cluster. Each of the 22 operating sites in Alumina Company of Iran was considered a cluster and 8 sites were randomly selected. The data measurement tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose validity and reliability were also checked. Data collection was done using SPSS 22 statistical software and statistical models. Descriptive, T-Test, ANOVA, correlation coefficient, and linear regression analysis were analyzed. Results: The results showed that the average age of the participants was 41.17±7.83 years. In the regression model, perceived sensitivity and perceived response cost (p < 0.05) were significantly predictive of behavior. Among the constructs of motivational theory, perceived sensitivity was a predictor of behavior (p<0.05). Among the demographic variables, only the variables of education (P=0.026) and smoking had a significant relationship with the behavior score (P=0.005) and other variables had a significant relationship. Conclusion: The perceived sensitivity and perceived cost rise, there is an increase in the utilization of respirators among individuals. Therefore, it is imperative to develop educational initiatives and interventions aimed at enhancing protective and safety practices, drawing from the constructs of protection motivation theory. It is crucial to highlight the significance of respirator usage among workers, and it is recommended that further exploration of this research be conducted across various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible leaders (RL) play a significant role in ensuring employee engagement and their successful management during crisis. Guided by the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the purpose of the study is to identify the dominant characteristics of Responsible Leaders (RL) and how these ensure employee engagement during crisis situation to contribute to theory, practice, and knowledge. The research is quantitative and used a questionnaire to collect data from 132 respondents in the public sector and analysed using structural equation model (SEM). Results showed that degree to which responsible leaders think and operate relationally is the most dominant characteristic which help build employees' engagement in crisis situation in the public sector. The paper concludes with the limitations and recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic has brought about a shift in the way people perform contactless payments using mobile apps, with QR codes becoming increasingly popular as customers can pay for goods and services without having to physically handle cash or cards. Drawing on the protection motivation theory (PMT), this research aims to reveal retail merchants' psychological fears of the COVID-19 virus, potentially carried by banknotes, which impact their decision to use QR-based mobile payment (m-payment) services. Structural equation modeling via SmartPLS was utilized to examine the data acquired from 448 small merchants and test the proposed hypotheses. The findings revealed that perceived severity, response efficacy, and self-efficacy had a positive impact on their continued intention to use m-payments; however, response cost had a negative impact. Furthermore, age, education, and business experience moderated some of the effects of these antecedents on m-payment continuance intention. Through effective awareness campaigns, providers can position m-payment as a worthy alternative to cash, establishing a sense of security and comfort from the disease-based harm that could be caused by the latter. Driven by the new physical distancing norm, a model that explicates one's fear of microbial infection and contamination transmitted from banknotes is a novel approach to predicting contactless payment adoption. Furthermore, the unique merchant perspective on m-payment adoption contributes to the existing literature that is traditionally centered on the consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite all the benefits of what customer data can bring to the marketing field, customers' privacy concern is one of the key challenges that comes with Big Data, privacy threats have evolved along with the evolution of information technology and resulted in privacy protection behaviour among customers. The present research conducted an experimental study to examine the effects of external stimuli in triggering privacy protection behaviour, including the presence of surveillance cameras, company disclosure of biometric data collection, and customers' prior knowledge of privacy. The study involved a 3 (environmental awareness: low/average/high) x 2 (company disclosure: yes/no) between subject designs. Data was collected on the Tencent questionnaire platform () with 554 effective responses. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the data. The results revealed that the presence of surveillance cameras, company disclosure in biometric data collection, and the customer's prior knowledge of privacy are crucial factors in triggering a customer's privacy protection behaviour in the service industry. Practical implications for retail store operators and theoretical contributions are discussed. The current study extends the knowledge of privacy protection by incorporating additional factors (privacy literacy) into the existing protection motivation theory. Additionally, it extends its application to the physical environment which is often overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital information and data significantly improve the efficiency of government work in China. At the same time, in order to deal with information security and data leakage events, public departments have begun to pay attention to the information security awareness and behaviour of civil servants. Based on organisational culture and protection motivation theory, this study constructed a mediated moderation model to explore the influence mechanism of grassroots civil servants' awareness of information security. This study collected 324 questionnaires from four regions of China. Results show that organisational culture has a significant positive impact on information security awareness. Professional identity has a significant positive effect on public service motivation and plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between organisational culture and information security awareness. Public service motivation mediates the moderating effect of professional identity on the relationship between organisational culture and information security awareness. The findings of this study offer practical implications and suggestions for further research. Points for practitioners: The construction of organisational culture will effectively enhance the information security awareness of Chinese grassroots civil servants.Public departments should consider professional identity as an important factor when selecting grassroots civil servants engaged in information security work.In the implementation of information security management strategy planning, government departments can pay attention to and emphasise the public service motivation of grassroots civil servants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a significant barrier to achieving high vaccination rates, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM), a group at increased risk for Mpox. This study aimed to develop and validate a Mpox vaccine hesitancy scale specifically tailored for Chinese MSM, grounded in the protection motivation theory (PMT). Methods: An online survey through snowball sampling was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024, collecting 2403 valid responses across six representative regions in China. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to evaluate the scale's construct validity, while reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α coefficient. The predictive validity of the scale was analyzed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: EFA ultimately retained 22 items in the Mpox vaccination scale and identified four distinct dimensions: Maladaptive Rewards (seven items), Self-efficacy (seven items), Response Efficacy (four items), and Response Costs (four items). These dimensions were confirmed by CFA, which demonstrated satisfactory model fit indices (χ²/df = 4.382, RMSEA = 0.053, SRMR = 0.048, GFI = 0.935, CFI = 0.967, NFI = 0.958, TLI = 0.963, and IFI =0.967). All indices were within acceptable ranges. The scale exhibited good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.906, and strong content validity, with an S-CVI/Ave of 0.952. The scale's predictive accuracy was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. When used to evaluate the scale's predictive accuracy, it yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.854 after adjustments, indicating good predictive ability between high and low hesitancy. Conclusions: This scale provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing Mpox vaccine hesitancy among MSM and can be used to gauge Mpox vaccination intention within this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention behaviors are important in mitigating the transmission of COVID‐19. The protection motivation theory (PMT) links perceptions of risk and coping ability with the act of adopting prevention behaviors. The goal of this research is to test the application of the PMT in predicting adoption of prevention behaviors during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Two research objectives are achieved to explore motivating factors for adopting prevention behaviors. (1) The first objective is to identify variables that are strong predictors of prevention behavior adoption. A data‐driven approach is used to train Bayesian belief network (BBN) models using results of a survey of N=7797$N=7797$ participants reporting risk perceptions and prevention behaviors during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A large set of models are generated and analyzed to identify significant variables. (2) The second objective is to develop models based on the PMT to predict prevention behaviors. BBN models that predict prevention behaviors were developed using two approaches. In the first approach, a data‐driven methodology trains models using survey data alone. In the second approach, expert knowledge is used to develop the structure of the BBN using PMT constructs. Results demonstrate that trust and experience with COVID‐19 were important predictors for prevention measure adoption. Models that were developed using the PMT confirm relationships between coping appraisal, threat appraisal, and protective behaviors. Data‐driven and PMT‐based models perform similarly well, confirming the use of PMT in this context. Predicting adoption of social distancing behaviors provides insight for developing policies during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the repeated changes in the COVID-19 pandemic, we live in an era of various uncertainties that raise future anxiety and behavioral addiction problems. According to the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the present study attempted to explore the impact of COVID-19 intolerance of uncertainty (COVID-19 IU) on internet addiction (IA) among college students and the mediating role of future anxiety (FA) by constructing a mediating model. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 679 Chinese college students and PROCESS 3.5 was utilized to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that the COVID-19 IU was significantly positively correlated with IA and FA, and FA was significantly positively correlated with IA. COVID-19 IU had a significant positive predictive effect on IA; FA played a complementary partial mediating role between COVID-19 IU and IA. The results supported the PMT, which not only enriched our understanding of FA under uncertain life circumstances, but also deepened our understanding of the potential mechanisms of the effects of IA. Finally, discussions and suggestions were presented based on the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 16th International Symposium on Schistosomiasis, held in Brazil, focused on disease control and elimination. Participants from 11 countries discussed various aspects of schistosomiasis, including the development of disease control tools and health education. The symposium featured keynote speeches, poster presentations, panel discussions, and abstract submissions. A Research Topic dedicated to the symposium aimed to disseminate selected studies presented during the event, covering topics such as diagnostic tests, host-parasite interactions, potential drug targets, and vaccine development. These studies contribute to the search for new strategies to combat schistosomiasis. The text also highlights the importance of education and diagnostic development in achieving the World Health Organization's guidelines for controlling and eliminating the disease. [Extracted from the article]

Due to their inherent properties, biocidal products might pose a risk to human and animal health and the environment. In risk management, there exists uncertainty about private users' comprehension of and willingness-to-adhere to use instructions that mitigate these risks (e.g., limit frequency of use or application area). This study aimed at providing insights into the users' perspective by focusing on their attention, comprehension, and the attitudinal predictors of protection motivation. In the online study (N = 957 participants from Germany) were introduced to a hypothetical purchase scenario featuring an insect spray and a realistic set of use instructions. Next, the participants' attention for the use instruction was measured in self-report and by tracking the time spent on the page with the use instruction, while Likert scale-type questions measured the comprehensibility, protection motivation, and predictors. Participants reported higher protection motivation if they spent more time with the use instruction, perceived it as comprehensible, rated the threat to humans, animals, and the environment as more severe, perceived themselves as responsible (i.e., internal locus of control) and capable (i.e., self-efficacy) of adhering to the use instructions, perceived adherence to the use instructions as effective (i.e., response efficacy) and did not perceive biocidal products as inherently safe (i.e., neutral locus of control). These results offer valuable information for an improved regulation of biocidal products and better management of potential risks associated with their use. They also provide concepts for interventions to ensure users of biocidal products follow the instructions for a safe use and better protection of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to explore the crucial interaction between organizational responsibility and employee behavior in cybersecurity, particularly in the distinct setting of Saudi Arabia. It investigates how organizational responsibility perceptions impact employee attitudes and practices towards cybersecurity. The research utilizes a mixed theoretical framework, incorporating stewardship theory, protection motivation theory, and the theory of planned behavior. It examines the intricate link between organizational leadership, policies, and individual responses to cybersecurity threats through a comprehensive survey conducted among Saudi employees. The study discovers that employees' perceptions of organizational responsibility greatly influence their cybersecurity behavior. It also finds that employee attitudes towards cybersecurity act as a mediator in this relationship. Contrary to expectations, personal experiences with cybersecurity incidents do not significantly moderate these relationships. This underlines the complex and culture-specific nature of cybersecurity compliance in organizational contexts. This research uniquely contributes to the understanding of cybersecurity behavior within organizations, particularly highlighting the need for policies that align with both organizational objectives and individual behaviors in culturally specific environments like Saudi Arabia. It offers novel insights into the less pronounced impact of personal cybersecurity experiences on organizational-employee dynamics in cybersecurity compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]