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Combining threat and efficacy messaging to increase public engagement with climate change in Beijing, China

Author

Listed:
  • Wen Xue

    (University of New England)

  • Donald W. Hine

    (University of New England)

  • Anthony D. G. Marks

    (University of New England)

  • Wendy J. Phillips

    (University of New England)

  • Patrick Nunn

    (University of Sunshine Coast)

  • Shouying Zhao

    (Guizhou Normal University)

Abstract

In this study we employed the Extended Parallel Process Model of risk communication to investigate the effectiveness of combining threat and efficacy messages to increase public engagement with climate change. A total of 515 Mandarin-speaking residents of Beijing, China were randomly assigned to view one of two climate change messages sourced from an online environmental website. The first message (high threat – low efficacy) described the negative impacts of climate change for China, but provided no information about what actions could be taken by citizens to reduce the threat. The second message (high threat – high efficacy) provided the same threat information, but also provided practical information on how to reduce the threat. Mediation analyses revealed that the high threat – high efficacy message elicited higher levels of perceived efficacy in viewers, which in turn predicted higher levels of danger control processing (intention to seek our more information and take action) and lower levels of fear control processing (message rejection and denial of threat). Moderation analyses revealed that the high efficacy messages were less effective for viewers with moderate to strong anthropocentric worldviews and very high ecocentric worldviews.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen Xue & Donald W. Hine & Anthony D. G. Marks & Wendy J. Phillips & Patrick Nunn & Shouying Zhao, 2016. "Combining threat and efficacy messaging to increase public engagement with climate change in Beijing, China," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 43-55, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:137:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s10584-016-1678-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-016-1678-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Blanford, Geoffrey J. & Rose, Steven K. & Tavoni, Massimo, 2012. "Baseline projections of energy and emissions in Asia," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(S3), pages 284-292.
    2. Paul M. Kellstedt & Sammy Zahran & Arnold Vedlitz, 2008. "Personal Efficacy, the Information Environment, and Attitudes Toward Global Warming and Climate Change in the United States," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 113-126, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thea Gregersen & Rouven Doran & Gisela Böhm & Wouter Poortinga, 2021. "Outcome expectancies moderate the association between worry about climate change and personal energy-saving behaviors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Joshua Ettinger & Peter Walton & James Painter & Thomas DiBlasi, 2021. "Climate of hope or doom and gloom? Testing the climate change hope vs. fear communications debate through online videos," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Karine Lacroix & Robert Gifford & Jonathan Rush, 2020. "Climate change beliefs shape the interpretation of forest fire events," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 103-120, March.
    4. Branden B. Johnson & Brendon Swedlow, 2021. "Cultural Theory's Contributions to Risk Analysis: A Thematic Review with Directions and Resources for Further Research," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(3), pages 429-455, March.
    5. Bose, Neha & Hills, Thomas & Sgroi, Daniel, 2020. "Climate Change and Diet," IZA Discussion Papers 13426, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Diana Tsoy & Danijela Godinic & Qingyan Tong & Bojan Obrenovic & Akmal Khudaykulov & Konstantin Kurpayanidi, 2022. "Impact of Social Media, Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) on the Intention to Stay at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-32, June.
    7. Xiaodong Yang & Liang Chen & Lai Wei & Qi Su, 2020. "Personal and Media Factors Related to Citizens’ Pro-environmental Behavioral Intention against Haze in China: A Moderating Analysis of TPB," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Haoran Chu & Janet Z. Yang, 2020. "Risk or Efficacy? How Psychological Distance Influences Climate Change Engagement," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(4), pages 758-770, April.
    9. Scott T. Armbruster & Rajesh V. Manchanda & Ngan Vo, 2022. "When Are Loss Frames More Effective in Climate Change Communication? An Application of Fear Appeal Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, June.
    10. Niall McLoughlin, 2021. "Communicating efficacy: How the IPCC, scientists, and other communicators can facilitate adaptive responses to climate change without compromising on policy neutrality," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 1-14, November.
    11. Zakir Shah & Lu Wei & Usman Ghani, 2021. "The Use of Social Networking Sites and Pro-Environmental Behaviors: A Mediation and Moderation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-21, February.

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