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Self-affirmation moderates effects of unrealistic optimism and pessimism on reactions to tailored risk feedback.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Klein, WMP; Lipkus, IM; Scholl, SM; McQueen, A; Cerully, JL; Harris, PR
Published in: Psychology & health
December 2010

We examined whether self-affirmation would facilitate intentions to engage in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among individuals who were off-schedule for CRC screening and who were categorised as unrealistically optimistic, realistic or unrealistically pessimistic about their CRC risk. All participants received tailored risk feedback; in addition, one group received threatening social comparison information regarding their risk factors, a second received this information after a self-affirmation exercise and a third was a no-treatment control. When participants were unrealistically optimistic about their CRC risk (determined by comparing their perceived comparative risk to calculations from a risk algorithm), they expressed greater interest in screening if they were self-affirmed (relative to controls). Non-affirmed unrealistic optimists expressed lower interest relative to controls, suggesting that they were responding defensively. Realistic participants and unrealistically pessimistic participants who were self-affirmed expressed relatively less interest in CRC screening, suggesting that self-affirmation can be helpful or hurtful depending on the accuracy of one's risk perceptions.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Psychology & health

DOI

EISSN

1476-8321

ISSN

0887-0446

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

25

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1195 / 1208

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sigmoidoscopy
  • Self Efficacy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Reality Testing
  • Occult Blood
  • Middle Aged
  • Mass Screening
  • Male
  • Judgment
 

Citation

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Klein, W. M. P., Lipkus, I. M., Scholl, S. M., McQueen, A., Cerully, J. L., & Harris, P. R. (2010). Self-affirmation moderates effects of unrealistic optimism and pessimism on reactions to tailored risk feedback. Psychology & Health, 25(10), 1195–1208. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440903261970
Klein, William M. P., Isaac M. Lipkus, Sarah M. Scholl, Amy McQueen, Jennifer L. Cerully, and Peter R. Harris. “Self-affirmation moderates effects of unrealistic optimism and pessimism on reactions to tailored risk feedback.Psychology & Health 25, no. 10 (December 2010): 1195–1208. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440903261970.
Klein WMP, Lipkus IM, Scholl SM, McQueen A, Cerully JL, Harris PR. Self-affirmation moderates effects of unrealistic optimism and pessimism on reactions to tailored risk feedback. Psychology & health. 2010 Dec;25(10):1195–208.
Klein, William M. P., et al. “Self-affirmation moderates effects of unrealistic optimism and pessimism on reactions to tailored risk feedback.Psychology & Health, vol. 25, no. 10, Dec. 2010, pp. 1195–208. Epmc, doi:10.1080/08870440903261970.
Klein WMP, Lipkus IM, Scholl SM, McQueen A, Cerully JL, Harris PR. Self-affirmation moderates effects of unrealistic optimism and pessimism on reactions to tailored risk feedback. Psychology & health. 2010 Dec;25(10):1195–1208.

Published In

Psychology & health

DOI

EISSN

1476-8321

ISSN

0887-0446

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

25

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1195 / 1208

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sigmoidoscopy
  • Self Efficacy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Reality Testing
  • Occult Blood
  • Middle Aged
  • Mass Screening
  • Male
  • Judgment