Don't derogate this message! Self-affirmation promotes online type 2 diabetes risk test taking.
The aim of the present study was to examine whether self-affirmation promotes acceptance of threatening type 2 diabetes information and risk-testing behaviour. In an experimental study (N = 84), we manipulated self-affirmation by allowing participants to affirm a value that was either personally important or unimportant to them, and measured participants' risk level prior to reading threatening type 2 diabetes information. As dependent variables, we measured message derogation, intentions to do an online type 2 diabetes risk test and online risk-testing behaviour. Findings showed that self-affirmation decreased message derogation, increased intentions to do an online risk test and promoted online risk test taking among at-risk participants. Among participants not at-risk, self-affirmation decreased intentions and online risk test taking. Therefore, it is concluded, that for an at-risk population self-affirmation can decrease defensive responses to threatening health information and promote (online) risk test taking for diseases.
van Koningsbruggen
Guido M
GM
Department of Communication Science, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. g.van.koningsbruggen@fsw.vu.nl
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult