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Greater benefit of self-affirmation for prevention-focused individuals prior to threatening health messages

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posted on 2023-06-09, 21:50 authored by Rebecca A Ferrer, Jennifer L Cerully, Pete HarrisPete Harris, William M P Klein
Objective Individuals are often defensive toward health messages that suggest they are putting their health at risk because such messages threaten their self-competence and integrity. Although self-affirmation can facilitate prevention behaviors in response to health messages, effects are variable. We examined whether disease prevention focus might strengthen self-affirmation’s effects in response to disease prevention messages, given that prevention-focused individuals are likeliest to be persuaded by those messages after self-affirmation attenuates defensiveness. Design In Study 1, participants were self-affirmed before a message about sexually transmitted infections. In Studies 2 and 3, individuals were self-affirmed prior to a message about alcohol and cancer risk. Main Outcome Measures Studies assessed intentions to use condoms, intentions to reduce alcohol, and willingness to drink alcohol in specific scenarios. Results In Study 1, self-affirmation facilitated condom use intentions among those higher in prevention focus. In Studies 2 and 3, self-affirmation facilitated lower willingness to consume alcohol among those high in prevention focus. A meta-analysis across the three studies indicated that self-affirmation improved intentions and willingness under high, but not low, prevention focus (d?=?0.20, p = .003). Conclusion These findings demonstrate that health prevention-focus can strengthen self-affirmation’s effects, thereby improving responsiveness to health communications about behaviors that increase disease risk.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Psychology and Health

ISSN

0887-0446

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Page range

1-20

Event location

England

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-10-09

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-08-12

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-10-08

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