How self-affirmation reduces defensive processing of threatening health information: Evidence at the implicit level.
Abstract
Objective Self-affirmation reduces defensive responses to threatening health information, but little is known about the cognitive processes instigated by self-affirmation. This study tested whether self-affirmation increases responsiveness to threatening health information at the implicit level. Design In an experimental study (N = 84), the authors presented high- (coffee drinkers) and low-relevance (noncoffee drinkers) participants with threatening health information linking caffeine consumption to health problems. Prior to reading this information, the authors manipulated self-affirmation. Main outcome measures Participants completed an unobtrusive lexical decision task to measure the accessibility of threat-related cognitions and reported their perceptions of message quality and intentions to take precautions. Results Among high-relevance participants, self-affirmation increased the accessibility of threat-related cognitions, increased perceptions of message quality, and promoted adaptive behavioral intentions. Conclusion The findings suggest that self-affirmation can increase implicit responsiveness to threatening health information among a target audience, that is, people for whom the health information is highly relevant.
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However, providing them with the opportunity to reflect on important values before reviewing the information decreased their denigration of the health message and increased their likelihood of agreeing to take a screening test.
“However, providing them with the opportunity to reflect on important values before reviewing the information decreased their denigration of the health message and increased their likelihood of agreeing to take a screening test (see also Howell & Shepperd 2012).”
From The Psychology of Change: Self-Affirmation and Social Psychological Intervention (2014) · cites this paper as van Koningsbruggen & Das 2009
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Simoudi, C., Alexias, G., & Tsekeris, C. (2014) · doi:10.13136/isr.v4i1.74
“…sociological surveys on smoking cessation, it has been indicated that fear conveyed by threatening health information not only increases smokers’ responsiveness to them, but also appeals on persuasion and adaptation of healthy behaviors (Maddux, 1983: 469-479; see van Koningsbruggen et al., 2009).”
Background
- Authors
- van Koningsbruggen, G. M., Das, E., & Roskos-Ewoldsen, D. R.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Venue
- Health Psychology
- Published
- 2009-09
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 563-568
- ISSN
- 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-7810
- OpenAlex
- W2098041157
- Cited by
- 100
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 118.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- self-affirmation, defensive processing, implicit cognition, message quality, behavioral intention, caffeine consumption, health risk communication, message relevance
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Attitude to Health, Beverages, Caffeine, Coffee, Decision Making, Defense Mechanisms, Female, Health Education, Humans, Judgment, Life Style, Male, Self Care, Social Values, Health Behavior, Self Efficacy, Intention, Young Adult
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