Pictorial Warning Labels and Memory for Relative and Absolute Cigarette Health-risk Information Over Time in Teens

Pictorial Warning Labels and Memory for Relative and Absolute Cigarette Health-risk Information Over Time in Teens

Pictorial cigarette warning labels (PWLs) are thought to increase risk knowledge, but experimental research has not examined PWLs' longer term effects on memory for health risks. In this study, teens who have experimented with smoking or are considered vulnerable to smoking are repeatedly exposed to text-only vs. graphic warning labels paired with numeric risk information. This study will allow us to assess the extent to which reactions to warnings remain consistent over time and influence future smoking intentions. We will also assess the impact of graphic images on memory for smoking risk information presented in absolute and (a smokers lifetime risk of getting a smoking related disease), or relative (a smokers risk of getting a smoking related disease, compared to the risk of non-smokers) formats.

Inclusion Criteria:

• have ever tried smoking
• report vulnerability to smoking (i.e., report that they might smoke in the next year or would try a cigarette if a friend offered one)
• parents give permission to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• not vulnerable to smoking (i.e., report they will definitely not smoke a cigarette in the next year and definitely would not try a cigarette if one was offered
• parents do not provide permission to participate