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Cited by 38Behavioral Health and InterventionsMedia Influence and HealthDeath Anxiety and Social Exclusion

Effects of self-affirmation on implementation intentions and the moderating role of affect

Ferrer, Rebecca A., Shmueli, Dikla, Bergman, Hannah E., Harris, Peter R., Klein, William M. P.·2012·Social Psychological and Personality Science
DOI 10.1177/1948550611419265
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Abstract

Self-affirmation may offset defensiveness to threatening messages, increase intentions to engage in protective behaviors, and facilitate actual change. Relatively little is known about the conditions under which self-affirmation is most beneficial. The authors examined whether self-affirmation facilitates the forming of implementation intentions–plans to engage in specific steps that facilitate behavior change—and whether effects differ by affective state. Undergraduate female drinkers ( N = 265) were self-affirmed or not prior to reading an article linking excessive alcohol consumption to breast cancer susceptibility. They then had the opportunity to report implementation intentions, by listing specific steps they planned to take to reduce consumption. Consistent with predictions, self-affirmation promoted formation of implementation intentions, an effect found only among individuals manifesting positive (as opposed to negative) affect following receipt of the message. Self-affirmation may facilitate behavior change by encouraging development of implementation intentions, an effect that is likely enhanced among those experiencing positive affect.

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  • Research on affirmations demonstrates their value in increasing self-awareness, implementing associated behaviors, fostering self-control, and regulating stress.

    “Research on affirmations demonstrates their value in increasing self-awareness, implementing associated behaviors, fostering self-control, and regulating stress (Burson et al., 2012; Ferrer et al., 2012; Harris, 2011; Sherman, 2013).”

    From A hope intervention for adolescents: a randomized controlled trial delivered by paraprofessionals (2025) · cites this paper as Ferrer et al., 2012

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Authors
Ferrer, R. A., Shmueli, D., Bergman, H. E., Harris, P. R., & Klein, W. M. P.
Affiliations
  • National Cancer Institute (US)
  • Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
  • University of Sheffield (GB)
Corresponding author
Ferrer, Rebecca A.
ORCID
Venue
Social Psychological and Personality Science
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2011-09-06
Volume
3
Issue
3
Pages
300-307
ISSN
  • 1948-5506 (ISSN-L)
  • 1948-5514
DOI
10.1177/1948550611419265
OpenAlex
W2159014284
Cited by
38
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
FWCI
2.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
Social Psychological and Personality Science (publishedVersion)
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, implementation intentions, affective states, positive affect, behavior change, alcohol consumption, breast cancer risk, health risk messages, defensive processing, protective behavior

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