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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 JessopObjectives 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 PsychologyISSN
1359-107XPublisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
2Volume
20Page range
274-289Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2015-07-10First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2015-07-10Usage metrics
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