TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of video-based social modelling on the nocebo effect
AU - Quinn, Veronica
AU - Pearson, Sarah
AU - Huynh, Anna
AU - Nicholls, Kate
AU - Barnes, Kirsten
AU - Faasse, Kate
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - Objective: Seeing someone else experience side effects (i.e., social modelling) can increase negative expectations and subsequent nocebo effects. In face-to-face contexts, this effect appears stronger in female participants. Less is known about the influence of gender on negative expectations and nocebo effects generated via video-based social modelling. Methods: One hundred and seven undergraduate participants recruited from a participant pool at an Australian university took part in a study ostensibly investigating the influence of beta-blocker medications (actually a sham treatment) on physiological and psychological aspects of anxiety. Participants were randomly assigned to either a no-treatment control group, a standard treatment group, or a video modelling group, in which participants viewed video-recorded confederates (one male, one female) report experiencing four side effects (two each) after taking the study treatment. Symptoms were assessed 15-min following pill ingestion, and at follow-up 24 h later. Results: Video modelling of side effects, compared to standard treatment, interacted with gender and was associated with increased reporting of modelled symptoms in female compared to male participants, p = .01, ηp2=0.06. Video modelling also increased negative expectations in female compared to male participants, p = .03, ηp2=0.07, and expectations mediated the influence of modelling on modelled symptoms in female participants. Conclusions: Social modelling of side effects via video increased negative expectations, and nocebo symptoms, to a greater extent in female participants. These findings suggest that males and females are differentially impacted by video-based side effect modelling. Results have implications for social modelling of side effects via social media and patient-support websites.
AB - Objective: Seeing someone else experience side effects (i.e., social modelling) can increase negative expectations and subsequent nocebo effects. In face-to-face contexts, this effect appears stronger in female participants. Less is known about the influence of gender on negative expectations and nocebo effects generated via video-based social modelling. Methods: One hundred and seven undergraduate participants recruited from a participant pool at an Australian university took part in a study ostensibly investigating the influence of beta-blocker medications (actually a sham treatment) on physiological and psychological aspects of anxiety. Participants were randomly assigned to either a no-treatment control group, a standard treatment group, or a video modelling group, in which participants viewed video-recorded confederates (one male, one female) report experiencing four side effects (two each) after taking the study treatment. Symptoms were assessed 15-min following pill ingestion, and at follow-up 24 h later. Results: Video modelling of side effects, compared to standard treatment, interacted with gender and was associated with increased reporting of modelled symptoms in female compared to male participants, p = .01, ηp2=0.06. Video modelling also increased negative expectations in female compared to male participants, p = .03, ηp2=0.07, and expectations mediated the influence of modelling on modelled symptoms in female participants. Conclusions: Social modelling of side effects via video increased negative expectations, and nocebo symptoms, to a greater extent in female participants. These findings suggest that males and females are differentially impacted by video-based side effect modelling. Results have implications for social modelling of side effects via social media and patient-support websites.
KW - expectations
KW - health information
KW - nocebo effect
KW - placebo effect
KW - social learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145705980&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111136
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111136
M3 - Article
C2 - 36610337
AN - SCOPUS:85145705980
SN - 0022-3999
VL - 165
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
M1 - 111136
ER -