Date of Award

Fall 8-2022

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Communication

Committee Chair

Dr. Steven Venette

Committee Chair School

Communication

Committee Member 2

Dr. Katie Anthony

Committee Member 2 School

Communication

Committee Member 3

Dr. John Meyer

Committee Member 3 School

Communication

Committee Member 4

Dr. Paul Alberti-Strait

Committee Member 4 School

Communication

Committee Member 5

Dr. Richard Mohn

Committee Member 5 School

Psychology

Abstract

The current study fills a gap in the risk and health communication literature that deals with perception of risk. The extended parallel process model (EPPM) and associated Risk Behavior Diagnosis Scale lack consideration for attenuated perceptions of risk when people believe that some agent (e.g., government agencies or first responders) will protect them from a hazard. This project’s intention is to establish the validity of a new concept, system efficacy, as an addition to the EPPM model. System efficacy supplements current use of self and response efficacy. In addition, this study tries to investigate how culture affect risk perception by comparing the United States, Iran, and China. Finding show system-efficacy as an independent variable affecting risk perception and cultures affect system-efficacy especially for Iranian and American participants which show different perceptions of system-efficacy and self-efficacy.

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