Lack of reassurance after unexpected positive health risk feedback – an analysis of temporal dynamics. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kollmann, Josianne; Nussbeck, Fridtjof W.; Lages, Nadine C.; Debbeler, Luka J.; Schupp, Harald T.; Renner, Britta
• Is Part Of: Health psychology and behavioral medicine. Volume 9:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Health risk feedback -- risk perception -- risk communication -- expectations -- lack of reassurance; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; 613.09
• DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2021.1913168
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2164-2850

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: How do people receive unexpected positive health risk information? While common motivational accounts predict acceptance, consistency accounts such as the cue-adaptive reasoning account (CARA) predict a 'lack of reassurance'. Objectives: We therefore tested (1) whether people prefer striving for positivity or retaining a sense of self-consistency ('lack of reassurance'), and (2) if there are systematic differences in short- and long-term reception, which would indicate temporal dynamics in processing. Methods: As part of a longitudinal cohort study, participants of a community health screening ( N = 1, 055) received their actual cholesterol readings. Feedback reception was assessed immediately, at one month and six months. Results: Processing trajectories for unexpected positive feedback showed a significant 'lack of reassurance' effect over time compared with expected positive feedback, while unexpected negative feedback was less threatening than expected negative feedback. Conclusions: The perseverance of this 'lack of reassurance' over time indicates that striving for consistency in self-views is a robust phenomenon, even if it means forfeiting a better view of one's own health.