The “Angelina Effect” and Audience Response to Celebrity vs. Medical Expert Health Messages: an Examination of Source Credibility, Message Elaboration, and Behavioral Intentions

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to examine responses to celebrity vs. medical experts’ health messages. Data were collected online from 357 participants at a large southwestern university. Results indicate that participants found the celebrity to be more credible than the medical expert in offering the health message. Women elaborated on the female celebrity’s health message to a significantly greater degree than men elaborated on the male celebrity health message. Regarding behavioral intentions (e.g., raise awareness, learn more, get screened, and encourage screening) due to the health message, men reported greater behavioral intentions due to the male celebrity message than the male medical expert message. Finally, women reported greater behavioral intentions due to the female medical expert’s message than men reported due to a male medical expert’s message. Discussion and future directions follow.