Gender differences in the induction of negative emotions by loss- versus gain-framed images accompanying a nutrition message

Health personnel’s preference for loss-framed health messages is attributed to occupational factors, but it could owe to gender. The majority of health workers are women, more susceptible to negative emotions than men. Here, we tested whether there are gender biases in processes whereby gain- and loss-framed messages induce negative emotions in the task of assessing a poster with nutritional recommendations to reduce risks associated with COVID-19. Using images of a smiling family indoors versus transportation of a coffin, we found among workers at a hospital in Lima, Peru that loss-frame, compared to gain-frame, robustly increased the negative emotions of women, but not those of men. Findings entailing positive emotions and adherence behavior are still needed to challenge the occupational interpretation.<br>

医疗人员对损失框架健康信息（loss-framed health message）的偏好以往多归因于职业因素，但也可能与性别相关。当前医疗从业者群体以女性为主，且女性相较男性更易受负面情绪影响。本研究旨在检验：在评估旨在降低COVID-19相关风险的营养建议海报的任务中，获益框架健康信息（gain-framed health message）与损失框架健康信息诱发负面情绪的过程是否存在性别偏差。本研究采用室内温馨全家福与棺椁运送场景的图像作为实验材料，在秘鲁利马某医院的医护人员中开展实验，结果发现：相较于获益框架信息，损失框架信息显著增强了女性医护人员的负面情绪，而对男性医护人员并无此类影响。目前仍需针对正面情绪与依从行为开展相关研究，以对职业因素的解释视角提出挑战。