Affirmation on the go: A proof‐of‐concept for text message delivery of values affirmation in education. (24th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manke, Kody J.; Brady, Shannon T.; Baker, Mckenzie D.; Cohen, Geoffrey L.
• Other Names: Easterbrook Matthew J. guestEditor.; Harris Peter R. guestEditor.; Sherman David K. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of social issues. Volume 77:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 888
• Page End: 910
• Publication Date: 2021-04-24
• Subjects: education -- field research/interventions -- self/identity; Social problems -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; United States -- Social conditions -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Sociology; Psychology, Social; Problèmes sociaux -- Périodiques; Psychologie sociale -- Périodiques; États-Unis -- Conditions sociales -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Sociale psychologie; Electronic journals; 305
• DOI: 10.1111/josi.12435
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4537

Abstract

Abstract: The present study offers a proof‐of‐concept for the delivery of values affirmation via text message. In two studies, we tested whether we could distill the typical 15‐minute pen‐and‐paper values affirmation exercise into a brief (∼4 minute) text‐message based exercise. In Study 1 ( N = 42), we asked students to identify an upcoming academic stressor. In Study 2, we targeted students ( N = 121) who reported that they would be starting a summer internship they expected to be stressful. In both studies, students completed a brief exercise (affirmation or control) via text message the night before their stressor. Across the studies, we found consistent benefits of this mobile affirmation on students' belonging, inconsistent effects on their perceptions of stress, and no effects on their evaluations of their stressor when measured shortly after (Study 1) or during (Study 2) the stressor. Together, these studies offer initial evidence for a novel, promising, and scalable method of delivering values affirmation at the "right time and place" using mobile technology. We also discuss lessons we learned and offer recommendations to researchers interested in administering affirmation via text message.