Effects of secondary risk on threat appraisal of dengue fever as a primary risk

This study aims to explore the effects of secondary risk, present with the adoption of a vaccine, on the appraisal of the primary risk of dengue fever. Using the Protection Motivation Theory as a guiding framework, this study also explores the effects of secondary risk on vaccine intention. A total of 267 undergraduate and graduate students, aged between 19 to 29, took part in this experiment. We presented participants with two mock online newspaper articles; one on dengue fever and the other on its vaccine. The article on the vaccine contained different information on the vaccine effectiveness, likelihood of vaccine side effects, and vaccine production method. Results showed that secondary risk in the form of likelihood of side effects has a significant influence on participants’ vaccine intention, F(1, 257) = 4.14, p = .04, η2 = .02. Likelihood of side effects also interacted with vaccine effectiveness to influence participants’ perceived vulnerability to dengue fever, F(1, 258) = 4.32, p = .04, η2 = .02. Vaccine production method was found to have no effect on intention and threat appraisal of dengue fever. These results add theoretical implications by suggesting a possible extension to the existing Protection Motivation Theory, and practical implications in the way governments and health authorities can craft health messages. Keywords: secondary risk, primary risk, protection motivation theory, dengue fever, vaccine intention, likelihood of side effects, vaccine production methodBachelor of Communication Studie