Optimizing Little Cigar and Cigarillo Warnings for Youth: The Perceived Effectiveness of Pictorial Warning Image Characteristics.
Saved in:
| Title: | Optimizing Little Cigar and Cigarillo Warnings for Youth: The Perceived Effectiveness of Pictorial Warning Image Characteristics. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Cornacchione Ross, Jennifer (AUTHOR), Jarman, Kristen L. (AUTHOR), Kowitt, Sarah D. (AUTHOR), Clark, Sonia A. (AUTHOR), Jebai, Rime (AUTHOR), Goldstein, Adam O. (AUTHOR), Thrasher, James F. (AUTHOR), Jenson, Desmond (AUTHOR), Ranney, Leah M. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Substance Use & Misuse. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 10, p1702-1709. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Labels, Smoking cessation, Cross-sectional method, Repeated measures design, Graphic arts, Research funding, Consumer attitudes, Statistical sampling, Descriptive statistics, Surveys, Tobacco products, Data analysis software, Confidence intervals |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Background: Pictorial warnings are superior to text-only warnings for cigarettes. However, little research has examined the impact of cigar warnings among youth, including image characteristics that may increase their effectiveness. Methods: We conducted an online within-subjects experiment September-October 2022 among N = 680 youth ages 15–20 who reported little filtered cigar or cigarillo (LCC) use or susceptibility to LCCs. Participants evaluated six FDA-proposed warning statements with one of six randomly assigned images selected from an earlier study phase. We double-coded warning images based on presence/absence of image features, including wound depiction; internal organ depiction; smoking cues; and symbolic/metaphoric representations; and assessed level of graphicness. Outcomes were perceived message effectiveness (PME), negative affect, and believability for each warning. We used linear mixed models to assess associations between image characteristics and outcomes, controlling for participant characteristics and warning statements. Results: About half of the sample identified as a woman/girl (56.2%) and White (56.3%). Warning images with a wound or an internal organ (vs. not) resulted in higher PME, negative affect, and believability (ps < 0.05). Warning images that were "very" or "moderately" graphic versus "not" graphic elicited higher negative affect ratings but lower believability ratings (ps < 0.05); with no significant difference for PME. Symbolic representations (vs. not) and smoking cues (vs. not) resulted in lower PME and negative affect (ps < 0.05). Conclusions: LCC warnings with images depicting internal organs or wounds of the health effects may enhance the effectiveness of warnings, which could hold promise for deterring LCC use among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Background: Pictorial warnings are superior to text-only warnings for cigarettes. However, little research has examined the impact of cigar warnings among youth, including image characteristics that may increase their effectiveness. Methods: We conducted an online within-subjects experiment September-October 2022 among N = 680 youth ages 15–20 who reported little filtered cigar or cigarillo (LCC) use or susceptibility to LCCs. Participants evaluated six FDA-proposed warning statements with one of six randomly assigned images selected from an earlier study phase. We double-coded warning images based on presence/absence of image features, including wound depiction; internal organ depiction; smoking cues; and symbolic/metaphoric representations; and assessed level of graphicness. Outcomes were perceived message effectiveness (PME), negative affect, and believability for each warning. We used linear mixed models to assess associations between image characteristics and outcomes, controlling for participant characteristics and warning statements. Results: About half of the sample identified as a woman/girl (56.2%) and White (56.3%). Warning images with a wound or an internal organ (vs. not) resulted in higher PME, negative affect, and believability (ps < 0.05). Warning images that were "very" or "moderately" graphic versus "not" graphic elicited higher negative affect ratings but lower believability ratings (ps < 0.05); with no significant difference for PME. Symbolic representations (vs. not) and smoking cues (vs. not) resulted in lower PME and negative affect (ps < 0.05). Conclusions: LCC warnings with images depicting internal organs or wounds of the health effects may enhance the effectiveness of warnings, which could hold promise for deterring LCC use among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 10826084 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10826084.2026.2619022 |
