Effects of Similar and Diversified Modeling on African American Women's Efficacy Expectations and Intentions to Perform Breast Self-Examination

Abstract

This experiment tested the impact of similar and diversified modeling on African American women's self-efficacy beliefs, perceptions of model appropriateness, and intentions to perform breast self-examination. Perceptions of physician source credibility also were assessed. Subjects in the similar-modeling condition viewed a videotape that used an African American female physician to impart information about breast cancer and breast self-examination and an African American model to demonstrate how to perform breast self-examination. Subjects in the diversified-modeling condition were exposed to a videotape that used a White male physician and multirace models for this purpose. Control condition subjects watched a tape that contained no modeling or efficacy information. Overall, efficacy expectations, physician credibility, and model appropriateness were greater for the similar-modeling condition than for the diversified-modeling and control conditions. Recommendations for breast self-examination campaigns for African American women are discussed based on the findings.