Impact of brief self‐affirmation manipulations on university students' reactions to risk information about binge drinking

Knight, Rebecca; Norman, Paul

doi:10.1111/bjhp.12186

Cited by 22 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This has important implications both for self-affirmation theory, as well as for approaches combining different theories in integrated interventions. Despite growing evidence that self-affirmation is generally effective at promoting healthful behaviors [3,13], some recent research has failed to find actual changes in drinking behavior [35,36]. However, the current study found self-affirmation reduced self-reported drinking up to 2 weeks after the experiment, and another study also reported reductions in drinking among those that completed a self-affirmation task 1 month later ( [14], see also [15]).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 68%

Integrating Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions: Effects on College Student Drinking

Ehret

Sherman

2018

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

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Background High levels of alcohol consumption are an enduring health risk among college students. Integrating multiple, complementary behavior change theories may offer a promising approach to promote reductions in alcohol consumption. Purpose The current study tested if integrating self-affirmation and implementation intentions would be more effective than a self-affirmation only, implementation intentions only, or control condition at reducing alcohol consumption in college students over a 2-week period. Method Two hundred and ninety-three college students who reported drinking in the past month were randomly assigned to a condition in a 2 (self-affirmation: values vs. control writing task) × 2 (implementation intentions: formed vs. not formed) between-subjects factorial design. Participants first completed a self-affirmation or control writing task, then read an article describing the risks of drinking. Next, all participants reported their common drinking behaviors and contexts, and then selected two harm-reduction strategies forming (or not forming) implementation intentions to use the strategies. Alcohol consumption was measured 1 and 2 weeks after the experiment. Results Participants in the integrated self-affirmation and implementation intention condition were most likely to abstain from drinking 1 week later. Affirmed participants continued to be more likely to abstain from drinking 2 weeks later. Conclusions The findings support the efficacy of integrating self-affirmation and implementation intentions to reduce college student drinking (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02926794).

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 68%

Integrating Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions: Effects on College Student Drinking

Ehret

Sherman

2018

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

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“…This may be because we measured behavioural conformity, rather than self-reported attitudes. Although self-affirmation has been identified as a strategy for improving health behaviour (Epton, Harris, Kane, van Koningsbruggen, & Sheeran, 2015), a growing body of studies have likewise found null effects of self-affirmation with respect to behaviour change (Kamboj et al, 2016;Knight & Norman, 2016;Norman et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social modelling of health behaviours: Testing self‐affirmation as a conformity‐reduction strategy

Reid

Field

Jones

et al. 2019

British J Health Psychol

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Objectives Social conformity negatively affects health. Exposure to peers who model unhealthy alcohol or food consumption increases personal consumption. Self‐affirmation alters processes related to the motivations underlying conformity. We therefore tested whether self‐affirmation reduces conformity to unhealthy behaviour and does so by reducing affiliation needs and/or increasing self‐regulation. Design In two studies, participants were randomized to one of four conditions in a 2 (low vs. high peer modelling) × 2 (self‐affirmed vs. not) design. Methods In Study 1 (N = 153), a confederate modelled low or high alcohol consumption. Participants’ alcohol consumption was recorded; mimicry of confederates’ sips was coded. In Study 2 (N = 122), written information indicated others’ snack food intake during the study. Participants’ food consumption was recorded. Affiliative interest was assessed in both studies. Inhibitory control and private self‐awareness were assessed in Studies 1 and 2, respectively. Results In Study 1, participants exposed to heavy drinking consumed significantly more alcohol and mimicked the confederate more frequently than participants exposed to the light drinking model. Self‐affirmation did not reduce this tendency, nor did it affect affiliative interest or inhibitory control. Exploratory analysis supported that mimicry mediated the peer modelling–consumption relationship. In Study 2, participants ate more when they believed others had eaten a lot, as opposed to little. Self‐affirmation did not reduce this tendency and did not affect affiliative interest. Self‐affirmed participants had higher private self‐awareness than those who were not self‐affirmed, but self‐awareness did not affect consumption. Conclusion Peer behaviour strongly influences personal consumption. Self‐affirmation did not reduce behavioural conformity. What is already known on this subject? Exposure to peers who engage in high consumption of alcohol and unhealthy foods is associated with increased personal consumption. Few studies have examined strategies to reduce conformity to consumption behaviours. What does this study add? Across two studies, self‐affirmation did not reduce behavioural conformity, despite its’ positive effects on private self‐awareness. Conformity in face‐to‐face interactions is largely driven by mimicry.

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“…It is interesting that we did not find any self‐affirmation effects in Study 2. There is at least one precedent for failure to find value elicitation effects in alcohol research with students (Knight & Norman, ). The values that we elicited may have contributed to this.…”

Section: Overall Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does other‐affirmation increase self‐directed exposure to and persuasiveness of a threatening anti‐alcohol message?

Brown

Chen

Coakley

et al. 2019

British J Health Psychol

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Objective Self‐affirmation of personal values can reduce defensive responses to threatening health promotion messages, probably because it induces a positive and expansive view of the self. However, coping with threat is also an interpersonal process. We developed other‐affirmation inductions that focus on values held by others. Two studies examined the effects of common affirmation inductions modified for other‐affirmation: affirmation of a specific value (kindness) and affirmation of a personally chosen value. Design Randomized and controlled three‐group (self‐, other‐, or no‐affirmation conditions) single‐factor design. Outcomes were time spent in self‐directed viewing the message and self‐reported outcomes that included intentions to reduce drinking, evaluations of the message, and risk perceptions. Methods Students were randomized to self‐, other, or no‐affirmation conditions and asked to read a threatening anti‐alcohol message. Results Self‐ and other‐affirmation increased message viewing time in Study 1. In both studies, other‐affirmation increased self‐reported outcomes, and study 1 showed this effect to be more prominent in females. In Study 1, the effects of self‐ and other‐affirmation on message exposure were greater in participants with defensive coping styles, and other‐affirmation effects were mediated by more positive views of others and their values. This mediation was independent of self‐affirmation. Conclusion Other‐affirmation increased self‐reported outcomes and, in Study 1, reduced defensiveness to and improved viewing times to an anti‐alcohol message. Other‐affirmation could be useful, because it may be suited to particular subpopulations, such as females, and can be easily incorporated into mass‐reach health communications. What is already known on this subject? Self‐affirmation of personally important values can reduce defensive responding to threatening health communications. Self‐affirmation effects have been shown to be mediated by feelings of connectedness. What does this study add? Affirmation of personally important values in others can improve effects of a health communication. Other‐affirmation effects may be greater in those with defensive coping styles. Other‐affirmation was mediated by enhanced perceptions of others and their values.

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Impact of brief self‐affirmation manipulations on university students' reactions to risk information about binge drinking

Cited by 22 publications

References 42 publications

Integrating Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions: Effects on College Student Drinking

Integrating Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions: Effects on College Student Drinking

Social modelling of health behaviours: Testing self‐affirmation as a conformity‐reduction strategy

Does other‐affirmation increase self‐directed exposure to and persuasiveness of a threatening anti‐alcohol message?

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