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  • Title: How self-affirmation reduces defensive processing of threatening health information: evidence at the implicit level.
    Author: van Koningsbruggen GM, Das E, Roskos-Ewoldsen DR.
    Journal: Health Psychol; 2009 Sep; 28(5):563-8. PubMed ID: 19751082.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Self-affirmation reduces defensive responses to threatening health information, but little is known about the cognitive processes instigated by self-affirmation. This study tested whether self-affirmation increases responsiveness to threatening health information at the implicit level. DESIGN: In an experimental study (N = 84), the authors presented high- (coffee drinkers) and low-relevance (noncoffee drinkers) participants with threatening health information linking caffeine consumption to health problems. Prior to reading this information, the authors manipulated self-affirmation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants completed an unobtrusive lexical decision task to measure the accessibility of threat-related cognitions and reported their perceptions of message quality and intentions to take precautions. RESULTS: Among high-relevance participants, self-affirmation increased the accessibility of threat-related cognitions, increased perceptions of message quality, and promoted adaptive behavioral intentions. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that self-affirmation can increase implicit responsiveness to threatening health information among a target audience, that is, people for whom the health information is highly relevant.
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