Data Analysis

SAS version 9.3 was used for analysis.²⁷ Descriptive analyses and cross-tabulations were used to generate percentages of independent and dependent variables. We entered all independent variables (ie, experimental conditions and background variables) simultaneously in four separate one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models to compare mean differences among the three experimental factors. Results from the ANCOVA models included F-values, p-values, and effect sizes (semi-partial eta-squared). Additionally, we conducted analyses that included two and three-way interactions of each of three experimental conditions to determine if combinations of the health message components affected perceptions. For all analyses, statistical significance was set at p < .05.