Figure 4

Simple slope analyses (hypothesis 6). The interaction effect of subjective threat and locus of health control (H6) was confirmed in Poland, Republic of Korea, Sweden and USA. In Poland, the relationship between subjective threat and both types of preventive actions was moderated by the external locus of health control (external LoC). The effect of subjective threat on the frequency of WHO-recommended actions was reduced in the case of individuals with high (mean + 1SD) levels of external LoC. Additionally, the mediation effect of objective risk through subjective threat on WHO actions was significant only in participants who reported low (mean − 1SD) levels of external LoC but not in those who reported medium (mean) or high levels. The positive effect of subjective threat on placebo actions was reduced among participants with low levels of external LoC. In the USA, the interaction effect of subjective threat and external LoC on placebo actions was significant: the relationship between feeling threatened and the frequency of applying placebo interventions was positive and was stronger in individuals characterized by high levels of external LoC than in individuals characterized by medium or low levels. In Republic of Korea and Sweden there was a significant interaction effect of subjective threat and internal locus of health control (internal LoC) on frequency of placebo actions. In Sweden, a stronger positive effect of subjective threat on frequency of placebo actions was observed among individuals with low levels of internal LoC than in those with medium and high levels. In the Republic of Korea, the positive effect of perceived threat was stronger among people with higher levels of internal LoC than among people with lower levels; Total sample: N = 3346; Republic of Korea: N = 551, Poland: N = 1092, Sweden: N = 587, USA: N = 521.