“You Should Know Better:” Can Self-Affirmation Facilitate Information-Seeking Behavior and Interpersonal Discussion?

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Health Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study explores whether self-affirmation has the capacity not merely to reduce the perceived threat associated with health-related information, but also to facilitate interpersonal discussion and affect health-information seeking behavior. The context for the study is the ongoing California drought, which serves as suitable context to examine the intersection of self-affirmation and information-seeking behavior, as it involves a threatening message (the destructive consequences of the drought) that highlights discrepancies between actual (water waste) and pro-social behavior (water conservation). Results of the month-long longitudinal panel study demonstrate significant effects [F(1,89) = 6.06, p = .02, hp2 = .06] of self-affirmation on interpersonal discussion, information seeking, knowledge, and water conserving behavior across time. Implications for theorizing longer-term effects of self-affirmation, as well practical implications for promoting behavioral change through the enhancement of knowledge and self-esteem are considered.

Authors

• Stefanie Demetriades, U of Southern California - Annenberg School for Communication

• Nathan Walter, U of Southern California - Annenberg School for Communication