Victoria A. Shaffer|Elizabeth S. Focella|Andrew D. Hathaway|Laura D. Scherer|Brian J. Zikmund?Fisher
On the Usefulness of Narratives: An Interdisciplinary Review and Theoretical Model
University of Missouri|University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh|University of Missouri|University of Missouri|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
use stories people promote better health experiences improve judgments health increase quality medical decisions without introducing bias systematically persuading listeners change attitudes altering behaviors nonoptimal ways practically narratives used health education promotion behavior change interventionsin article address questions conducting narrative review diverse body literature narratives several disciplines gain better understanding narratives including role communication engagement recall persuasion health behavior change also review broad theories information processing persuasion psychology specific models narrative messaging found health communication marketing literatures provide insight processes narratives effect health behaviorto address major gaps theoretical understanding narratives work effects health behavior propose narrative immersion model whose goal identify parameters predict specific impact particular narrative eg persuade inform comfort etc based type narrative message eg process experience outcome narrative narrative immersion model describes magnitude effect increasing successive layers engagement narrative interest identification immersion finally narrative immersion model identifies characteristics narrative intervention encourage greater immersion within given narrativewe believe important communication gaps areas areas behavioral medicine could addressed narratives however work needed order employ narrative messaging systematically narrative immersion model advances theoretical understanding narrative processing subsequent effects knowledge attitudes behavior