title: Combining self-affirmation and implementation intentions: evidence of detrimental effects on behavioral outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited evidence that self-affirmation manipulations can promote health behavior change.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore whether the efficacy of a self-affirmation manipulation at promoting exercise could be enhanced by an implementation intention intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (Study 1 N = 120, Study 2 N = 116) were allocated to one of four conditions resulting from the two (self-affirmation manipulation: no affirmation, affirmation) by two (implementation intention manipulation: no implementation intention, implementation intention) experimental design. Exercise behavior was assessed 1 week post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrary to prediction, those participants receiving both manipulations were significantly less likely to increase the amount they exercised compared to those receiving only the self-affirmation manipulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorporating an implementation intention manipulation alongside a self-affirmation manipulation had a detrimental effect on exercise behavior; participants receiving both manipulations exercised significantly less in the week following the intervention.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Pevensey 1, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK, d.jessop@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Donna C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jessop
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buckland
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Churchill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult