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Shared Social Identification in Mass Gatherings Lowers Health Risk Perceptions via Lowered Disgust

Abstract

Previous research concerning mass gathering-associated health risks has focused on physical factors while largely neglecting the role of psychological factors. The present research examined the effect of experiencing shared social identification on perceptions of susceptibility to health risks in mass gatherings. Participants in Study 1 were asked to either recall a crowd in which they shared a social identity with other crowd members or a crowd in which they did not. Participants subsequently completed measures assessing shared social identity, disgust, and health risk perceptions. Study 2 involved administering the same measures as part of a survey to participants who had recently attended a music festival. The results from both studies indicated that sharing a social identity lowered health risk perceptions; this effect was indirect and mediated via disgust. This highlights the importance of considering social identity processes in the design of health communication aimed at reducing mass gathering-associated health risks.

Acceptance Date Dec 9, 2019
Publication Date Dec 24, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal British Journal of Social Psychology
Print ISSN 0144-6665
Publisher Wiley
Pages 839-856
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12362
Keywords social identity, health risk, risk perception, disgust, mass gathering, crowd
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12362

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