Beyond cognition: predicting health risk behaviors from instrumental and affective beliefs.
OBJECTIVE
Two studies assessed the relative contribution of affective and instrumental beliefs to the prediction of 2 risk behaviors: driving above the speed limit and smoking.


METHODS
Both studies took the form of large-scale questionnaire surveys (Study 1, N=292; Study 2, N=500) measuring instrumental and affective beliefs and self-reported behavior. In both cases, behavior was also measured objectively.


METHODS
In Study 1, speeding behavior was measured via infrared camera along sections of road with 30 mph, 40 mph, and 60 mph speed limits. Self-reports of speeding in these same contexts represented a 2nd dependent variable. In Study 2, level of smoking was measured via a carbon monoxide monitor, and participants were asked to indicate the number of cigarettes they smoked in a week.


RESULTS
In Study 1, positive and negative instrumental and affective beliefs were significant predictors of self-reported speed. The most powerful predictor was negative affective beliefs. Observed speed was predicted by negative affective beliefs only. In Study 2, the significant predictors of self-reported smoking and objective measures of smoking were positive and negative affective beliefs.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate the importance of affective beliefs across 2 health risk behaviors. Implications for social cognition models and interventions are discussed.
Lawton
Rebecca
R
Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. r.j.lawton@leeds.ac.uk
Conner
Mark
M
Parker
Dianne
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom