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Monitoring styles in women at risk for cervical cancer: Implications for the framing of health-relevant messages

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

We explored the interaction effects of individual attentional style (high versus low monitoring) and the framing of informational messages on the responses of women undergoing diagnostic follow-up (colposcopy) for precancerous cervical lesions. Prior to the colposcopic procedure, patients (N=76) were randomly assigned to one of three preparatory conditions: (a) Loss-framed message, which emphasized the cost of nonadherence to screening recommendations; (b) Gain-framed message, which emphasized the benefit of adherence; and (c) Neutrally-framed message. It was hypothesized that low monitors (who are more positively biased about their health) would show a more adaptive pattern of response to loss-framed information than high monitors (who are more negatively biased about their health). The results of a series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses were consistent with this prediction. Low monitoring was associated with greater knowledge retention (β=.61, p<.05) and less canceling/rescheduling of follow-up appointments in the loss condition than in the neutral condition (β=.82, p<.002). High monitoring, however, was associated with greater intrusive ideation when information was presented in the loss-oriented frame as compared to the neutral frame (β=.99, p<.01). Knowledge retention and screening adherence were not affected by the framing manipulation. The differences between high versus low monitors as a function of loss or neutral frame suggest an interaction effect, wherein both the type of framing message and the individual's attentional style lead to distinctive cognitive-affective and behavioral patterns. The findings may have clinical implications for the tailoring of health messages to the individual's signature style.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Joanne S. Buzaglo

    Present address: Philadelphia Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Department of General Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychosocial and Behavioral Medicine Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Annex Building, 510 Township Line Road, Third Floor, 19012, Cheltenham, PA

    Suzanne M. Miller, Joanne S. Buzaglo, Samantha L. Simms, Victoria Green & Christina Bales

  2. Riva-Mangan Associates, Philadelphia, USA

    Charles E. Mangan

  3. Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, USA

    Thomas V. Sedlacek

Authors
  1. Suzanne M. Miller
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  2. Joanne S. Buzaglo
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  3. Samantha L. Simms
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  4. Victoria Green
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  5. Christina Bales
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  6. Charles E. Mangan
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  7. Thomas V. Sedlacek
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Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by NIH grants CA58999, CA61280, CA06927, HG0166, ACS grant PBP-89318, DOD grants BC971638 and OC970004, and appropriations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Rob Sipps, Leeann Speechley, and Lloyd Ohls.

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Miller, S.M., Buzaglo, J.S., Simms, S.L. et al. Monitoring styles in women at risk for cervical cancer: Implications for the framing of health-relevant messages. ann. behav. med. 21, 27–34 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02895030

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02895030

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