Self-affirmation inductions to reduce defensive processing of threatening health risk information

• Published in: Psychology & health Vol. 37; no. 10; pp. 1287 - 1308
• Main Authors: Iles, Irina A., Gillman, Arielle S., Ferrer, Rebecca A., Klein, William M. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 03-10-2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol use; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - prevention & control; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Intention; Risk; Self Concept
• ISSN: 0887-0446; 1476-8321
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1945060

Self-affirmation reduces defensiveness toward threatening health messages. In this study, we compared several possible self-affirmation inductions in order to identify the most effective strategy.
Women at increased risk for breast cancer (i.e. who drink 7+ drinks per week) were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 1,056), randomly assigned to one of 11 self-affirmation conditions, and presented with an article about the link between alcohol intake and breast cancer risk.
Participants answered questions that measured key indices of message acceptance (risk perception, message endorsement), future alcohol consumption intentions, and action plans to reduce alcohol intake.
Participants who affirmed health vs. non-health values did not differ in behavioral intentions or action plans to reduce alcohol intake. General values vs. health essay affirmations led to higher odds of reporting some vs. no action plans to reduce alcohol consumption. Essay- vs. questionnaire-based inductions led to higher breast cancer worry and intentions to reduce alcohol consumption.
Overall, self-affirmation inductions that include an explicit focus on values (general or health-related) and self-generation of affirming thoughts through essay writing, are most potent in changing behavioral intentions and action plans to change future health behavior.