Do induced moods really influence health perceptions?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether induced mood alters health reports.


METHODS
Randomized experiments testing a) mood influence on two global self-rated health (SRH) assessments (Study 1; N = 168) and b) testing whether illness relevant thinking moderates the influence of induced negative mood on SRH and physical symptom reports (Study 2; N = 143).


METHODS
Two global SRH items. Results. Effect sizes for induced mood were near zero across both studies (r's = 0.00-0.07). Aggregate analyses of induced mood studies showed a small adverse effect of induced negative mood on SRH, but these analyses masked roughly equal instances of better SRH among groups with worse mood.


CONCLUSIONS
Published experimental research shows no consistent pattern of poorer SRH following negative mood induction in college-aged samples. Sample size and gender may account for variation in health ratings among induced mood groups.
Barger
Steven D
SD
Department of Psychology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA. steven.barger@nau.edu
Burke
Sarah M
SM
Limbert
Megan J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012803:Sick Role; D013850:Thinking