COVID-19 Message Fatigue, Information Overload, Message Avoidance, and Behavioral Intention–Model Inventory

Abstract

The COVID-19 Message Fatigue, Information Overload, Message Avoidance, and Behavioral Intention–Model (Sun & Lee, 2023) was developed to explore the relationships between perceived information overload, COVID-19 message fatigue, message avoidance, and behavioral intention, grounded in the stressor-strain-outcome framework and existing literature. The measure adapted items from previous research (e.g., Wisniewski & Lu, 2010; So et al., 2017; Cho, 2004). The model was evaluated using structural equation modeling and factor analysis, with administration to young adults in the US. The study reported findings regarding the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the measure.

Keywords

Behavioral Intention; COVID-19 Message Fatigue; Information Overload; Message Avoidance; Social Media; Stressor-Strain-Outcome Framework; Avoidance; Fatigue; Health Knowledge; Messages; Health Psychology Assessment; Health Information; COVID-19; Digital Fatigue

Authors

Sun, Juhyung; Lee, Sun Kyong

---

Purpose

The purpose of this measurement model is to assess how perceived information overload leads to COVID-19 message fatigue and, subsequently, how such fatigue influences message avoidance behavior and intentions to perform preventive behaviors against COVID-19.

Validity

Convergent and Discriminant Validity: Convergent validity was supported as the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) for the constructs ranged from 0.51 to 0.80. For discriminant validity, Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio (HTMT) analysis was conducted, with results showing that the estimated HTMT ratio for all variables was below the criterion of 0.90, indicating good discriminant validity.

Reliability

Internal Consistency: The internal consistency of the constructs was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Composite Reliability (CR) values, both of which ranged from 0.73 to 0.94.

Factor Analysis

Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) results indicated that four items (BI4, BI9, BI12, and BI14) had factor loadings below 0.40 and were consequently removed from subsequent analyses (Hair et al., 2010). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) demonstrated that the measurement model had a good fit to the data, with the following fit indices: χ²(288) = 791.12, p < .001, χ²/df = 2.75, CFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.06, and SRMR = 0.05. For the Behavioral Intention construct, a three-factor (hygiene, social restrictions, vaccination) second-order CFA was conducted to verify validity. This second-order factor showed an acceptable model fit: χ²(40) = 153.42, p < .001, χ²/df = 3.84, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.06, and SRMR = 0.04.

Common Method Bias: Harman’s single-factor test was performed and yielded a single factor accounting for 41.76% of the total variance, suggesting that common method bias did not significantly affect the data.

Instrument: COVID-19 Message Fatigue, Information Overload, Message Avoidance, and Behavioral Intention–Model (Sun & Lee, 2023)

Test Type: Original
Format: Items are rated using 5- and 7-point Likert-type scales ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.”
Language Available: English
Population Group: Human (Male, Female, Nonbinary)
Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older), specifically Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs) and Thirties (30-39 yrs).
Population Details: Respondents were university students in the United States, representing various gender identities including Nonbinary.
Test Methodology: Test Validity, Convergent Validity, Discriminant Validity, Test Reliability, Internal Consistency, Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Measurement Model, Structural Equation Modeling.
Number of Items: This is a 26-item measure.

Keywords

Behavioral Intention; COVID-19 Message Fatigue; Information Overload; Message Avoidance; Social Media; Stressor-Strain-Outcome Framework.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifiers:

• Sun, Juhyung: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0302-5196

• Lee, Sun Kyong: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8645-8922

Affiliation Email Addresses:

• Sun, Juhyung: [email protected] (University of Oklahoma Department of Communication)

• Lee, Sun Kyong: [email protected] (Korea University School of Media & Communication)

Correspondence Address:
Sun, Juhyung: University of Oklahoma, Department of Communication, 610 Elm Ave, Norman, Oklahoma, United States, 73019, [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Contact Corresponding Author.
Fee: No
Commercial: No
Test Year: 2023

References

Sun, J., & Lee, S. K. (2023). “No more COVID-19 messages via social media, please”: The mediating role of COVID-19 message fatigue between information overload, message avoidance, and behavioral intention. Current Psychology: A Journal for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 42(24), 20347–20361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04726-7

Items of the COVID-19 Message Fatigue, Information Overload, Message Avoidance, and Behavioral Intention–Model (Sun & Lee, 2023)

Constructs:

• Information Overload (IO)

• COVID-19 Message Fatigue (Exhaustion; Tedium)

• Message Avoidance

• Behavioral Intention (Hygiene; Social restrictions; Vaccination)

Test Items Availability: No data is Available.
Test Location: 2023-79819-001, Appendix, Page 20358.