Greater benefit of self-affirmation for prevention-focused individuals prior to threatening health messages. Issue 6 (14th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferrer, Rebecca A.; Cerully, Jennifer L.; Harris, Peter R.; Klein, William M. P.
• Is Part Of: Psychology & health. Volume 36:Issue 6(2021)
• Page Start: 719
• Page End: 738
• Publication Date: 2021-06-14
• Subjects: Self-affirmation -- prevention focus -- health messages -- health behavior; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; Attitude to Health -- Periodicals; Public Opinion -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2020.1800008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-0446

Abstract

Abstract: 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.