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Cited by 168Behavioral Health and InterventionsMedia Influence and HealthDeath Anxiety and Social Exclusion

The Impact of Self‐Affirmation on Health Cognition, Health Behaviour and Other Health‐Related Responses: A Narrative Review

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Harris, Peter R., Epton, Tracy·2009·Social and Personality Psychology Compass
DOI 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00233.x
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Abstract

There is growing evidence that self‐affirmation – the process of reflecting upon cherished values or attributes – may have implications for health. Postulated effects range from reducing the defensive resistance to unwelcome health‐risk information to ameliorating the physiological response to stress. In this, the first detailed review of the literature on self‐affirmation and health, we summarise what is known. Self‐affirming can increase acceptance of unwelcome health‐risk information, especially among those at greatest risk. Self‐affirmed participants typically also report more intention to change behaviour postmessage. There is evidence that certain effects of self‐affirming may endure. Self‐affirmation has also been shown to have beneficial effects on the response to stress. There is, however, currently only limited evidence of actual health‐behaviour change following self‐affirmation. We discuss reasons for this and consider key research questions for the next phase of research.

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  • This effect has been confirmed in many studies.

    “This effect has been confirmed in many studies (for reviews, see Harris & Epton 2009, 2010;Sherman & Hartson 2011).”

    From The Psychology of Change: Self-Affirmation and Social Psychological Intervention (2014) · cites this paper as Harris & Epton 2009

    The Summary reports promising evidence that self-affirmation can increase acceptance of health-risk information, and the Message processing section describes findings from several studies. But the Summary (p. 24) says there were relatively few studies and that even the most replicated effects rested on only a handful, so “confirmed in many studies” overstates the review’s assessment. The citing sentence does not specify which effect it means. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 29

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Authors
Harris, P. R., & Epton, T.
Affiliations
University of Sheffield (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Social and Personality Psychology Compass
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-11-27
Volume
3
Issue
6
Pages
962-978
ISSN
1751-9004 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00233.x
OpenAlex
W2116343308
Cited by
168
References
14
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Social and Personality Psychology Compass (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Keywords
self-affirmation, health cognitions, health behavior change, stress response

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