The role of affect regulation in health behavior change

This research explores the relationship between affect regulation and health behavior change through two studies. Study 1 tested whether difficulties with affect regulation are associated with lower health-related behavioral intentions. Study 2 introduces the Calibrate and Qualify Model to examine the role of cognitive reappraisal in predicting health-related intentions and behavior. We posit that reappraisal could impact health behaviors either by shaping the favorability of health-related attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control, thereby increasing intentions and subsequently behavior (Calibrate Route) or by serving as a moderator, such that healthful cognitions better predict intentions and behavior at high levels of cognitive reappraisal (Qualify Route).

Study 1 was a cross-sectional study of 15 health behaviors (N = 319) that measured reasoned action approach (RAA) variables and difficulties in emotion regulation. Study 2 was a 3-month longitudinal study (N = 807) of eight health-related behaviors that tested the Calibrate and Qualify Model predictions using measures of cognitive reappraisal, RAA variables, and habit.

Difficulties in emotion regulation, and limited access to affect regulation strategies in particular, predicted intentions to perform health behaviors (Study 1). Findings from Study 2 supported the Calibrate Route: cognitive reappraisal predicted intentions, and the reappraisal-intention relation was mediated by RAA variables. Supporting the Qualify Route, we observed a three-way interaction between habit, reappraisal, and intention, indicating that cognitive reappraisal combined with strong intentions attenuated the influence of habit on behavior.

Our research suggests that affect regulation is an important consideration for predicting and understanding health behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).