A new approach to audience segmentation for vaccination messaging: applying the anger activism model

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to use the anger activism model as an audience segmentation tool in the context of the anti-vaccination movement.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a national purposive sample (N = 438).

Findings

The group with high anger, strong efficacy (i.e. “activists”) was found to be more likely to engage in information seeking and was more accurate and defense-motivated when examining information about anti-vaxxers compared to other groups. Importantly, activists were more likely to engage in both low and high commitment behaviors to change vaccine policy.

Originality/value

As anti-vaxxers have proven to be difficult to change attitudinally, future campaigns are more likely to succeed if they leverage pro-vaccine audiences to fight for change. However, the understanding of the various segments within the pro-vaccination audience is limited. The data are discussed regarding leveraging high anger, strong efficacy audiences as change agents in future persuasive campaigns.

Citation

Jang, Y., Turner, M.M., Heo, R.J. and Barry, R. (2021), "A new approach to audience segmentation for vaccination messaging: applying the anger activism model", Journal of Social Marketing, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 424-452. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-10-2020-0206