Yanmengqian (Alison) Zhou studies health and interpersonal communication with a focus on social influence and social support. Her research primarily addresses the design and impact of persuasive messages aimed at promoting attitude and behavioral change across various health and risk contexts. Her recent work specifically examines the effects of conflicting messages, particularly in the form of advice, on health decision-making and behavior.

Educational Background

PhD, Pennsylvania State University
MPhil, Chinese University of Hong Kong
MA, Shanghai International Studies University

Recent Courses

COM 231: Principles of Persuasion
COM 205: Research Methods

Current Research

Impact of conflicting versus position-incongruent advice messages on attitude change and the underlying mechanisms
Effectiveness of different messaging strategies in improving decision-making amidst conflicting health recommendations due to updated scientific evidence
Longitudinal effects of exposure to health campaign messages within a competitive media environment

Selected Publications

Zhou, Y., & Farrell, E. L. (2023). Understanding responses to conflicting advice on COVID-19. Health Communication. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2023.2227429

Zhou, Y., Li, R., & Shen, L. (2023). Targeting COVID-19 vaccine-hesitancy in college students: An audience-centered approach. Journal of American College Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2180988

Zhou, Y., & High, A. C. (2023). Language use in online support provision: The impact of others’ supportive messages, support seeking strategy, and channel publicness. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 28(2), zmac038. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmac038

Zhou, Y., & Shen, L. (2022). Confirmation bias and the persistence of misinformation on climate change. Communication Research, 49(4), 500-523. https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502211028049

Zhou, Y., Acevedo Callejas, M. L., & MacGeorge, E. L. (2020). Targeting perceptions of risk from injudicious antibiotic use: An application of the risk information seeking and processing model. Journal of Health Communication, 25(5), 345-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2020.1762140