Year: 2025
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: Despite the acknowledged importance of communication theory, its application in mental health contexts remains underexplored. This chapter bridges this gap by integrating the Communication/Persuasion Model (Berlo, 1960; McGuire, 1989) to offer practical insights for improving mental health messaging and interventions. This model provides a robust foundation for understanding and crafting mental health communication messages, focusing on key input variables (source, message, channel, receiver, destination) and output variables (attention and awareness, comprehension, elaboration, memory, beliefs and attitudes, and behaviors). By understanding how these variables influence communication processes, mental health messaging can be tailored to resonate with diverse audiences, promote help-seeking behaviors, and reduce stigma. The model also highlights the importance of selecting appropriate channels and crafting messages that are aligned with audience characteristics and goals. The chapter concludes by identifying gaps in current research and advocating for future studies to evaluate these variables in diverse populations and mental health conditions, ensuring inclusive and impactful communication strategies.
Source: Wiley eBooks
Authors: Romy RW, Xingman Wu, Rudy Sunrin Kim, Xiaoli Nan
Language: English
Topic: Media Influence and Health
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4408980809