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The moderating impact of self-esteem on self-affirmation effects

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 21:33 authored by Camilla During, Donna JessopDonna Jessop
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.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

British Journal of Health Psychology

ISSN

1359-107X

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

2

Volume

20

Page range

274-289

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-07-10

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-07-10

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