Research Areas

My overarching research goal is to develop theory-driven communication strategies that can help overcome people’s resistance to health communication. I am particularly interested in designing persuasive messages and innovative tools that could help improve individuals’ health decisions beyond their resistance. Much of my research has explored the interplay between (a) the individual factors that are relevant to resistance (e.g., optimistic bias, past unhealthy behaviors, and death anxiety) and (b) message (e.g., narratives, framing) and/or technological features (e.g., avatar, online self-monitoring) in shaping people’s judgment and beliefs on public health issues, as well as their personal health decisions. Guided by major theories in communication and social psychology, my research emphasizes on the explication of specific mechanisms that underlie individuals’ realization of their vulnerability to health risks that produce subsequent changes in health behaviors.

Research: Projects

Explicating Reasons for the Resistance to Health Promotion

Although people generally value being healthy, not all of them adopt protection behaviors, and they often resist important health information. Resistance is defined as a motivational state wherein one withstands the influence of persuasion. It can be the result of many different processes and its levels vary by the individual and the context. Given persuasion’s significant role in health promotion, my work explicates possible reasons for resistance to persuasion, with a special emphasis on the motivation to preserve a positive self-conception. For example, my research has examined how psychological factors, such as optimistic bias, autobiographic history, death anxiety and cultural beliefs, influence people’s acceptance of health information and their health decisions.

Publications

44. Lee, T.K., & Kim, H.K. (in press). An enjoyable story, a persuasive story: Exploring narrative enjoyment in narrative persuasion. Journal of Media Psychology

43. Kim, H.K., & Kim, Y. (2021). Protective behaviors against particulate air pollution: Self-construal, risk perception, and direct experience in the theory of planned behavior. Environmental Communication, 15(8), 1092-1108.

42. Zheng, H., Kim, H.K., Sin, S-C. J. Theng, Y-L. (2021). A theoretical model of cyberchondria development: Antecedents and intermediate processes.  Telematics and Informatics.

41. Kim, H.K. & Tandoc Jr. E. (2021, online first). Wear or Not to Wear a Mask? Recommendation Inconsistency, Government Trust and the Adoption of Protection Behaviors in Cross-Lagged TPB Models. Health Communication

40. Li, B. J., & Kim, H.K. (2021; equal contribution). Experiencing organ failure in virtual reality: Effects of self- versus other-embodied perspective taking on empathy and prosocial outcomes. New Media & Society, 23(8), 2144-2166.

39. Cheng, L.C.R, & ~Kim, H. K (2021). Eye Screenings Among Singaporeans Aged 40 to 60: A Formative Research Based on The Theory of Planned Behaviour. Singapore Medical Journal.

38. Kim, H.K., & Lwin, M.O. (2020, online first). Cultural Determinants of Cancer Fatalism and Cancer Prevention Behaviors. Health Communication

37. Zheng,J., Sin, S.C.J., Kim, H.K., & Theng, Y.L. (2020). Cyberchondria: a systematic review. Internet Research,31(2), 677-698.

36. Kim, H.K. Ahn, J., Atkinson, L. & Kahlor, L.A. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 Misinformation on Information Seeking, Avoidance, and Processing: A Multicountry Comparative Study, 42 (5), 586-615.

35. Shi, J., & Kim, H.K. (2020). Mental health conditions in young Asian adults and motivation to seek counselling: A cross-country study. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 32 (6-7), 328-333.

34. Kang, H., & Kim, H.K. (2020, online first). My avatar and the affirmed self: Psychological and persuasive implications of avatar customization. Computers in Human Behavior, 112, 106446.

33. Kim, N., Kim H.K., Wojcieszak, M, & Igartua, J-J. (2020) The Presence of the Protagonist: Explaining Narrative Perspective Effects Through Social Presence. Media Psychology, 23, 6.

32. Shi, J. & Kim, H.K. (2020). Integrating risk perception attitude framework and the theory of planned behavior to predict mental health promotion behaviors among young adults. Health Communication,35(5),597-606.

31. Kim, H.K., Lee, T.K., & **Kong, W. Y. (2020). The interplay between framing and regulatory focus in processing narratives about HPV vaccination in Singapore. Health Communication, 35, 222-232.

30. Kim, H.K., & Lai, C. H. (2020). Seeking and sharing information about transboundary air pollution in Singapore: Effects of own and others’ information insufficiency. Environmental Communication, 14, 68-81.

29. Kim, H.K. & Kim, Y. (2019). Risk information seeking and processing about particulate air pollution in South Korea: The roles of cultural worldview. Risk Analysis, 39 (5), 1071-1087.

28. Kim, H.K., Lim, R., & Wong, D. (2019). Psychosocial Motivators for Moderate Drinking among Young Asian Flushers in Singapore. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(11), 1897.

27. Chung, M.J, & Kim, H.K. (2019). Effects of Media Frame and Onset Controllability on Support for Postpartum Depression Policy. Journal of Health Communication, 24, 7-8

26. Kim, J., Kim, H. K., Kim, S., & Lin S-F. (2019). Cultural trait vs. personality trait: Predicting the appeal of Korean entertainment among Asian viewers in Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 63, 285-303.

25. Lou, C., & Kim, H.K. (2019). Fancying the New Rich and Famous? Explicating the Roles of Influencer Content, Credibility, and Parental Mediation in Adolescents’ Parasocial Relationship, Materialism, and Purchase Intentions. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 25-67.

24. Marsoof, A., Lou, C., & Kim, H.K. (2019). Plain packaging and tobacco trade marks: A constitutional and empirical study from Singapore. European Intellectual Property Review, 41 (9), 555-563.

23. Shin, W.S., & Kim, H. K. (2019). What motivates parents to mediate children’s use of smartphones? An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 63 (1), 144-159.

22. Kim, H.K., & Lee, T. K. (2018). Curious or afraid of using study drugs? The effects of self-referent thoughts and identification on anticipated affect. International Journal of Communication, 12, 22.

21. Kim, H.K., & Lee, T. K. (2018). Combining two outcome frames to promote support for obesity-related policies. Journal of Health Communication, 23(8), 751-760.

20. Kim, H.K., & Lee, T. K. (2017). Conditional effects of gain-loss framed narratives among current smokers at different stages of change. Journal of Health Communication, 22(12), 990-998.

19. Lee, T. K., & Kim, H. K. (2017). Differential effects of message framing on obesity policy support between Democrats and Republicans. Health Communication, 32(12),1481-1490.

18. Kim, H. K., & Lwin, M. O. (2017). Cultural effects on cancer prevention behaviors: Fatalistic cancer beliefs and risk optimism among Asians in Singapore. Health Communication, 32(10),1201-1209.

17. Kim, H. K. (2016). Efficacy of value-expressive messages at improving attitudes toward psychiatric help seeking for depression treatment among young adults. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 9(4), 288-297.

16. Kim, H. K., & Shapiro, M. A. (2016). When bad things happen to a protagonist like you: The role of self in resistance to negatively framed health narratives. Journal of Health Communication, 21(12), 1227-1235.

15. Kim, H. K., & Niederdeppe, J. (2016). Effects of self-affirmation, narratives, and informational messages in reducing unrealistic optimism about alcohol-related problems among college students. Human Communication Research, 42 (2), 246-268.

14. Kim, H. K., Niederdeppe, J., Graham, M., Olson, C., & Gay, G. (2015). Effects of online self-regulation activities on physical activity among pregnant and early postpartum women. Journal of Health Communication,20,1115-1124.

13. Kim, H. K., *Kim, S., & Niederdeppe, J. (2015). Scientific uncertainty as a moderator of the relationship between descriptive norm and intentions to engage in cancer risk-reducing behaviors. Journal of Health Communication, 20, 387-395.

12. Guillory, J., Niederdeppe, J., Kim, H. K., Pollak, J.P., Graham, M., Olson, C., & Gay, G. (2014). Does social support predict pregnant mothers’ information seeking behaviors on an educational website? Maternal and Child Health Journal,18(9), 2218-2225.

11. Kim, H. K., Niederdeppe, J., Guillory, J., Graham, M., Olson, C., & Gay, G. (2014). Determinants of pregnant women’s online self-regulatory activities for appropriate gestational weight gain. Health Communication, 30, 922-932.

10. Parra, P. A., Kim, H. K., Shapiro, M. A., Gravani, R. B., & Bradley, S. D. (2014). Home food safety knowledge, risk perception, and practices among Mexican-Americans. Food Control, 37,115-125.

9. Niederdeppe, J., Lee, T., Robbins, R., Kim, H. K., Kresovich, A., Kirshenblat, K., Standridge, K., Clarke, C. E., Jensen, J., & Fowler, E. F. (2014). Content and Effects of News Stories about Uncertain Cancer Causes and Preventive Behaviors. Health Communication, 29, 332-346.

8. Niederdeppe, J., Shapiro, M. A., Kim, H. K., Bartolo, D. B., & Porticella, N. P. (2014). Narrative persuasion, causality, complex integration, and support for obesity policy. Health Communication, 29, 431-444.

7. Niederdeppe, J., Roh, S., Shapiro, M.A., & Kim, H. K. (2013). Effects of emphasizing environmental determinants of obesity on intentions to engage in diet and exercise behaviors. Preventing Chronic Disease, 10,130-163.

6. Kim, H. K., & Niederdeppe, J. (2013). The role of emotional response during an H1N1 influenza pandemic on a college campus. Journal of Public Relations Research, 25, 30-50.

5. Kim, H. K., & Niederdeppe, J. (2012). Exploring optimistic bias and the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction in the context of a campus influenza outbreak. Journal of Health Communication, 18, 206-222.

4. Niederdeppe, J., Kim, H. K., Lundell, H. C., Frazier, B., & Fazili, F. (2012). Beyond counterarguing: Simple elaboration, complex integration and counter-elaboration in response to variations in narrative focus and sidedness. Journal of Communication, 62, 758-777.

3. Shapiro, M. A., & Kim, H. K. (2012). Realism judgments and mental resources: A cue processing model of media narrative realism. Media Psychology, 15, 93-119.

2. Kim, H. K., Bartolo, D., & Niederdeppe, J. (2011). Exploring attributions and emotional reactions in processing narratives about obesity. Journal of Health & Mass Communication, 3, 168-190.

1. Kim, H. K., & Yang, S.-U. (2009). Cognitive processing of crisis communication: Effects of CSR and crisis response strategies on stakeholder perceptions of a racial crisis dynamics. Public Relations Journal.

Research: List