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. Copyright 2009 APA, all rights reserved.
RCT Entities:
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. Copyright 2009 APA, all rights reserved.
Authors: Emily B Falk; Matthew Brook O'Donnell; Christopher N Cascio; Francis Tinney; Yoona Kang; Matthew D Lieberman; Shelley E Taylor; Lawrence An; Kenneth Resnicow; Victor J Strecher Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2015-02-02 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Johanna B Folk; David J Disabato; Fallon R Goodman; Sarah P Carter; Jennifer C DiMauro; John H Riskind Journal: J Psychother Integr Date: 2016-05-19
Authors: Cristin D Runfola; Laura M Thornton; Emily M Pisetsky; Cynthia M Bulik; Andreas Birgegård Journal: Compr Psychiatry Date: 2013-11-19 Impact factor: 3.735
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