During, Camilla and Jessop, Donna C (2014) The moderating impact of self-esteem on self-affirmation effects. British Journal of Health Psychology, 20 (2). pp. 274-289. ISSN 1359-107X

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Abstract

Objectives

This study explored whether self-esteem would moderate the effectiveness of a self-affirmation manipulation at increasing openness to personally relevant health-risk information.

Design

The study employed a prospective experimental design.

Method

Participants (N = 328) completed either a self-affirmation manipulation or a control task, prior to reading information detailing the health-related consequences of taking insufficient exercise. They then completed a series of measures assessing their cognitions towards exercise and their derogation of the information. Exercise behaviour was assessed at 1-week follow-up.

Results

Self-esteem moderated the impact of self-affirmation on the majority of outcomes. For participants with low self-esteem, the self-affirmation manipulation resulted in more positive attitudes and intentions towards exercise, together with lower levels of derogation of the health-risk information. By contrast, there was no effect of the self-affirmation manipulation on outcomes for participants with high self-esteem.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that self-affirmation manipulations might be of particular benefit for those with low self-esteem in terms of promoting openness towards health-risk information. This is promising from a health promotion perspective, as individuals with low self-esteem often represent those most in need of intervention.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

•Self-affirmation has been shown to result in more open processing of personally relevant health-risk information.
•Individuals low in self-esteem tend to process such information more defensively than those high in self-esteem.

What does this study add?

•It explores whether self-esteem moderates the impact of self-affirmation on responses to health-risk information.
•Findings suggest that individuals with low self-esteem benefit most from the self-affirmation manipulation.
•This has important applied implications, as individuals with low self-esteem may be most in need of intervention.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
Depositing User:	Lene Hyltoft
Date Deposited:	10 Jul 2015 11:06
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2019 22:33
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/55284

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