Citation

Levi-Belz Y, Gamliel E. Omega (Westport) 2018; ePub(ePub): 30222818791715.

Affiliation

The Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Sage Publications)

DOI

10.1177/0030222818791715

PMID

30079803

Abstract

Presentation of epidemiological information about the absolute number of suicides has been used occasionally to increase awareness of the suicide phenomenon. This study investigated the effectiveness of absolute quantitative messages versus relative messages. An example of relative messages would be comparing the number of suicide deaths with the number of deaths by car accidents. Participants were randomly presented with absolute or relative messages regarding suicide. They were then requested to indicate the degree of severity they attributed to the suicide phenomenon, being the level to which they view the phenomenon as sufficiently important to mandate national intervention and resource allocation. Relative messages proved more effective than absolute ones in yielding greater perceived severity of suicide. Increasing public and policymakers' awareness of the suicide phenomenon could be aided by presenting information in relative terms.

Language: en

Keywords

decision-making; elaboration likelihood model; judgment; perceived severity; relative versus absolute messages; suicide awareness