Samenvatting

The studies in this thesis aim to increase understanding of the effects of various
characteristics of scientific news about a common chronic disease, i.e., diabetes,
on the cognitive responses (e.g., emotions, attitudes, intentions) of diabetes
patients. The research questions presented in this thesis are guided by the Health
Belief Model, a theoretical framework developed to explain and predict healthrelated
behaviours based on an individual’s beliefs and attitudes. The model
asserts that perceived barriers to a recommended health behavior, advantages
of the behavior, self-efficacy in executing the behavior, and disease severity
and personal susceptibility to the disease are important predictors of a health
behavior. Communication is one of the cues to action (i.e., stimuli) that may
trigger the decision-making process relating to accepting a medical or lifestyle
recommendation.