title: Self-presentation can be hazardous to your health: impression management and health risk.
abstract: People's concerns with how others perceive and evaluate them can lead to behaviors that increase the risk of illness and injury. This article reviews evidence that self-presentation motives play a role in several health problems, including HIV infection; skin cancer; malnutrition and eating disorders; alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; injuries and accidental death; failure to exercise; and acne. The implications of a self-presentational perspective for research in health psychology, the promotion of healthful behaviors, and health care delivery are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Leary
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Tchividjian
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kraxberger
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D017280:Condoms; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006370:Heliotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D012928:Social Desirability; D013256:Steroids; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D013256:Steroids