A Cultural Approach to Understanding Publics and their Information Behaviors during COVID-19: Self-Construal and Identity Salience. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ni, Lan; Shen, Hongmei
• Is Part Of: Journal of public relations research. Volume 35:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Self-construal -- identity salience -- publics -- situational theory of problem solving -- COVID-19; Public relations -- Periodicals; Public relations -- Research -- Periodicals; 659.205
• DOI: 10.1080/1062726X.2022.2149533
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1062-726X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Integrating the situational and cross-situational approaches to understanding publics, this study examined cultural antecedents (self-construal and political identity salience) to situational perceptions (problem recognition, involvement recognition, constraint recognition), situational motivation, and key information behavior regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from an online survey (N = 556) showed that political identity salience and interdependent self-construal triggered publics' situational perceptions, which in turn activated their situational motivation and information forwarding behaviors. The study contributed to public research through examining important cultural influences on value-laden and polarized issues and revealing additional nuances in communicative activeness.