Reception of multiple health risk feedback: do good news compensate bad news?

Abstract

In real life, people often receive feedback for various health risk factors simultaneously. Hence, the actual individual risk profile might encompass a ‘mixed’ risk status with an evaluated status on one risk factor (e.g. high blood cholesterol) and a normal status on another factor (normal blood glucose). The present study tested how mixed versus consistent risk feedback profiles are processed. In a public health screening, 817 participants received feedback about their actual coronary risk status profile (blood cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure). Afterwards risk perceptions and perceived need to act were assessed. Participants acknowledged their individual risk profile in their risk perceptions (Fs>11.8, ps<.001). Interestingly, mixed risk profiles did not induce ‘attenuation’ effects in comparison to consistent risk profiles. Thus, an elevated reading on a risk factor induced a higher risk perception even when simultaneously a normal reading on another risk factor was present. People are sensitive to the risk profile when receiving multiple risk feedback and do not compensate bad news with good news indicating relative accuracy. Resulting theoretical implications for the processing of health risk information are discussed.