Media exposure, perceived efficacy and positive experience as predictors of personal and social risk perceptions of mishandled vaccine in China

Informed by social cognitive theory and impersonal impact hypothesis, this study examined the effects of media exposure, perceived efficacy and prior positive experience on risk perception during a risk event concerning mishandled vaccine in China. Through an online survey of 923 Internet users in China, the study explored the effect of media exposure on perceived risk in two dimensions: exposure frequency and exposure extensity, and found that exposure extensity was a significant predictor of personal risk perception, while exposure frequency had a significant effect on social risk perception. Response efficacy negatively predicted perceived social risk, while self-efficacy did not predict perceived personal risk. Prior positive experience moderated the effects of exposure extensity and self-efficacy on perceived personal risk. Prior positive experience also moderated the effects of response efficacy on perceived social risk, but did not moderate the effect of exposure frequency on perceived social risk.