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Combining self-affirmation and implementation intentions: evidence of detrimental effects on behavioral outcomes
Donna C Jessop1, Paul Sparks, Nicola Buckland
1School of Psychology, Pevensey 1, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK, d.jessop@sussex.ac.uk.
Background:
There is limited evidence that self-affirmation manipulations can promote health behavior change.
Purpose:
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.
Conclusion:
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.
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