Using augmented reality (AR) to increase risk perception of e-cigarettes among young adults: From the perspective of construal level theory

Wang, Yanyun (Mia)

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121264 Copy

Description

Title

Using augmented reality (AR) to increase risk perception of e-cigarettes among young adults: From the perspective of construal level theory

Author(s)

Wang, Yanyun (Mia)

Issue Date

2023-07-14

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Yao, Mike Zhengyu

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Yao, Mike Zhengyu

Committee Member(s)

• Vargas, Patrick
• Ahn, Sun Joo Grace
• Oh, Sang-Hwa
• Ho, Jeffrey

Department of Study

Inst of Communications Rsch

Discipline

Communications and Media

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Augmented Reality
• health communication

Abstract

E-cigarette use has surged in popularity, particularly among youth, despite its association with numerous health risks. Many users have inaccurate perceptions of the potential harms of e-cigarettes, stemming from a lack of knowledge, the delayed manifestation of health consequences, and a tendency to underestimate personal susceptibility to disease. This dissertation explores the potential of augmented reality (AR) technology to increase e-cigarette users' risk perception by decreasing psychological distance. Study 1, which compared AR and non-AR scenarios, demonstrated that AR substantially enhanced interoceptive awareness, irrespective of an individual's innate interoceptive sensitivity. Furthermore, Study 1 revealed that AR could effectively reduce both temporal and psychological distances. This reduction in distances led to an intensification of people's perceptions of risk likelihood, susceptibility, and severity. Expanding on this, Study 2 conducted a more nuanced comparison between self-focused AR and non-self-focused AR. The results indicated that both conditions have comparably significant impacts on perceived risk likelihood and severity. However, self-focused AR proved to be more effective in heightening people’s perception of risk susceptibility. Additionally, the study suggested that self-focused AR could decrease social distance compared to non-self-focused AR. This reduction influenced people’s perception of hypothetical distance, though it did not affect their perception of temporal distance.

Graduation Semester

2023-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121264

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Yanyun (Mia) Wang

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