It’s Good for Me

The Role of Moral Development in Health Advertising Effectiveness

Authors

  • Nia Johnson Samford University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32473/jpic.v5.i2.p3

Abstract

This study examines moral development’s role in judgments of health messages. This research assesses which appeals and type of benefit advertised in health ads impact ad effectiveness and health intentions. Results indicate that messages advertising a third-person benefit of the behavior are more appealing than a first-person benefit and that moral development should be considered when designing health messages. The ads presenting a third-person benefit and an emotional appeal were more effective among those who rated higher in the maintaining norms schema of moral development and among those with higher moral development. This indicates that health messages targeting adolescents should emphasize the principles at play when encouraging behavior or attitude change and should highlight societal values in the behaviors.

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Published

2021-12-29

Issue

Section

Original Research