A TEST OF A MODEL OF CONSUMERS RESPONSES TO PRODUCT MANUAL SAFETY INFORMATION

Product manuals can play a role in marketplace safety and can enhance product utility (Celuch, Lust, & Showers, 1992). Given the current mar ketplace concern with such issues, it is surprising how little attenti on product manuals have received in published research. The present st udy blends theory and research from the threat communication and prote ctive behavior literature as a starting point for the development of a conceptual framework relating to consumer responses to manual safety information. To this end, relationships among arousal, safety-related self-efficacy, behavioral intentions related to safety recommendations , and product use intention were examined and generally supported. Bas ed on the findings of the study, several issues relevant to researcher s and practitioners in the area are discussed.