title: 'I do not need a flu shot because I lead a healthy lifestyle': compensatory health beliefs make vaccination less likely.
abstract: Compensatory health beliefs, a self-defence strategy, were examined in a theory-guided intervention promoting influenza vaccination at the workplace. In total, 851 employees were randomised to one group aimed at enhancing intention formation (standard group) or to another one assisting self-regulation (intervention group). Assessments took place after the intervention and 5 months later, investigating whether the intervention would interfere with compensatory health beliefs. The intervention generated an indirect effect via planning on vaccination. Compensatory health beliefs mediated between intention and behaviour. An interaction between intervention group and compensatory health beliefs on behaviour transpired. At low compensatory health belief levels, the intervention group resulted in more vaccinations than the standard group.
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany. anna.ernsting@fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernsting
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarzer
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lippke
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines