Dispositional motivations and message framing: a test of the congruency hypothesis in college students.
The authors examined the congruency hypothesis that health messages framed to be concordant with dispositional motivations will be most effective in promoting health behaviors. Undergraduate students (N=63) completed a measure of approach/avoidance orientation (behavioral activation/inhibition system) and read a gain- or loss-framed message promoting flossing. Results support the congruency hypothesis: When given a loss-framed message, avoidance-oriented people reported flossing more than approach-oriented people, and when given a gain-framed message, approach-oriented people reported flossing more than avoidance-oriented people. Discussion centers on implications for health interventions and the route by which dispositional motivations affect health behaviors through message framing.
Mann
Traci
T
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA. mann@psych.ucla.edu
Sherman
David
D
Updegraff
John
J
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities