In:
Psychological Reports, SAGE Publications, Vol. 123, No. 6 ( 2020-12), p. 2101-2124
Abstract:
In previous studies, self-affirmation has been shown to have no effect or have a negative impact on intention to change. We applied construal level theory to examine possible reasons for inconsistencies among findings in existing self-affirmation studies. In Study 1, when female college students in their 20s ( N = 113) received health threat information with a psychologically proximal breast cancer message, it induced low-level construal and increased specific physical activity intention. In Study 2, when self-affirmed participants were exposed to health threat information with a psychologically distal Alzheimer’s disease message, there was no increase in specific physical activity intention. These results suggest that when a discrepancy exists between the psychological distance of health threat information and the intention reflecting the construal level, no change of intention occurs, even in self-affirmed individuals.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0033-2941
,
1558-691X
DOI:
10.1177/0033294119856547
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2066930-6
SSG:
5,2
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