Can Self-affirmation Enhance Health Promotion?
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Psychology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Good A
(2015)
Open-mindedness can decrease persuasion amongst adolescents: the role of self-affirmation.
in British journal of health psychology
| Description | Public health messages are often resisted because of the natural tendency to downplay suggestions of personal inadequacy. It may be possible to reduce this resistance by focusing attention on personal values, positive characteristics and social connections ('self-affirmation'). This project examined ways of using self-affirmation to increase open-minded acceptance of messages about the harmful effects of being physically inactive. A series of studies explored how self-affirmation works, and whether the effects depend on the target population and the type of health message. Key findings: • Self-affirmation encouraged more thorough processing of health messages, which in turn led to greater prioritisation of reasons to be active over the practicalities of achieving this. • Even when a neutral message was used, self-affirmed participants reported more physical activity a week later. • Initial evidence suggested that photographs of social groups may reduce resistance to messages about physical activity. This should be explored further as a potentially valuable method for enhancing real health campaigns. • Self-affirmation was most effective when combined with messages that explained negative consequences of inactivity without attempting to persuade individuals that it is easy to be more active. • Self-affirmation appeared to be particularly beneficial for those from higher socioeconomic status background, and could be detrimental amongst those who are more deprived. • Self-affirmation was associated with decreased levels of activity and less acceptance of messages amongst those already engaging in high levels of exercise. This may be because self-affirmation produced greater sensitivity to appropriateness of message content. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings of this project suggest ways in which self-affirmation techniques can be incorporated into future advertising and health promotion strategies. Following further scientific research, it is likely that health promotion practitioners could put the findings to use by using both self-affirmation techniques and messages containing information about physical activity and academic performance. In particular, we have a manuscript in preparation which offers a promising image-based approach to self-affirming, which could easily be incorporated into real health promotion campaigns (e.g. mass media advertising). Since defensiveness is a significant barrier to the dissemination of health messages to target audiences, this finding could have substantial benefits in terms of public health and the impact of future campaigns. |
| Sectors | Education,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Description | Societal impact The research was presented to large audiences of students and staff at several schools. These presentations emphasised gaps between physical activity behaviour and recommendations, and discussed particular techniques for bridging this gap. The P.I. has also disseminated findings to individuals who work with students at the University of Sussex: Findings demonstrating the benefits of a message about physical activity and academic performance were discussed with the Health and Well-being manager. It was agreed that an adapted message would be added to the Health and Well-being webpages, and that students could be directed to this as appropriate. These findings have also been discussed at several meetings with the Head of Sport, resulting in an advertising campaign focused on physical activity and academic performance. The Head of Sport presented the research at a Health and well-being committee meeting. The P.I. also supported the Sport Centre's Sport England bid to encourage exercise amongst inactive students. The P.I. met with the Student's Union activities manager. Relevant findings from the project, for example the potential of self-affirming images, were discussed in relation to how these might inform planned interventions to increase physical activity. In 2015, the P.I. also presented findings at a talk given to Sussex university sports centre staff and to University staff who were on an exercise programme. Self-affirmation as discussed in the context of encouraging enactment of planned behaviour. A further meeting was held with the organiser of a weight loss management programme at Albion in the Community to discuss the potential of embedding self-affirmation within the materials given to their members. This final meeting was also intended to plan a future ESRC grant based on self-affirmation in the context of improving intention-behaviour consistency amongst dieters. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Advertising campaign at a sports centre |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Disseminating research to an activities manager |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Improving information about exercise and well-being |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Title | Study 1: self-affirmation x threat content x efficacy content |
| Description | SPSS data file showing responses of undergraduates to an message about physical activity and academic performance. Participants were randomised to be in the self-affirmation or self-affirmation control conditions, and to receive one of four message types: 1) threat+efficacy message 2) threat only message 3) efficacy only message 4) neutral message |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not known |
| Title | Study 2: comparing self-affirmation to construal level interventions |
| Description | This dataset shows responses to a message about heart disease combined with interventions based on self-affirmation and construal level theories. There were six conditions: Control self-affirmation task Self-affirmation task Message preceded by one of the following statements: 'Every day people suffer the consequences of failing to get enough physical activity' 'Every year people suffer the consequences of failing to get enough physical activity' 'Imagine your life in a year' 'Imagine life in a few months' |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not known |
| Title | Study 3: pilot study comparing different forms of self-affirmation |
| Description | A comparison was made between three self-affirmation tasks: • Self-affirming 'implementation intentions' (Armitage et al. 2011) • Kindness scale (Reed & Aspinwall, 1998) • Values in Action scale (VIA; Napper & Harris, 2009) These tasks were also compared to a self-affirmation control task (from Reed & Aspinwall, 1998). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not known |
| Title | Study 4: Images of social groups can reduce defensiveness |
| Description | Participants were exposed to images depicting a social group either interacting or standing in line. They were then presented with a message about a range of consequences associated with physical inactivity. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not known |
| Description | Advisor to the well-being manager |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The P.I. disseminated findings to the Student Health and Well-being manager at the University of Sussex. In particular, findings demonstrating the benefits of a message about physical activity and academic performance were discussed. The P.I. identified a gap in the information available to students concerning the benefits of exercise for academic achievement and quality of life. It was agreed that an adapted message would be added to the Health and Well-being webpages, and that students could directed to this information as appropriate. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Well-being manager met the PI and engaged in an email conversation and explored amending their website. |
| Impact | Plans to add information to the University website and direct relevant students to this. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Sports centre advisor |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The PI met with and presented to Staff at the University of Sussex on a number of occasions, resulting in an advertising campaign based on links between physical activity and academic performance. The Head of Sport also presented the research at a Health and well-being committee meeting. The P.I. was involved in supporting a Sport England bid to encourage inactive students to do more exercise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributing to the research which informed guidance to the Sports centre |
| Impact | An advertising campaign based on links between physical activity and academic performance. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Conference - oral presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation about the findings of our published paper. Several postgraduate students expressed an interest in the research and the PI maintained contact with one after the conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Presentation to University Staff on a fitness programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 20 University staff and students attended the presentation, which was intended to use the research findings to help them achieve their fitness goals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Presentations at schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The research was presented to large audiences of students and staff at several schools (Francis Holland School, Steyning Grammar School, Shoreham Academy). Powerpoint presentations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Self-affirmation promotes open-minded rejection of challenging health messages |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation: Self-affirming (e.g. reflecting on important values) facilitates open-minded appraisal of threatening health messages amongst those most at risk, but how does it affect those at low risk who are informed of inadequacies in their behaviour? In an experimental design, adolescents (N = 125) completed self-affirmation or control tasks before reading current advice about why and how they should be physically active for at least 60 minutes/ day. The 123 participants not meeting these recommendations were told that this increased their risk of heart disease. Responses to the information were assessed (e.g. perceived risk, self- and response-efficacy). Moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed that self-affirmation was associated with higher self-efficacy and recall amongst relatively inactive participants, but with lower self- and response-efficacy, acceptance and recall amongst those moderately active. While self-affirmation can be beneficial, caution is needed in its use when it may be rational to be sceptical about needing to change. Poster |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |