Abstractness and Messages Describing Consequences Promote Healthier Behavioral Intentions

Abstract

Many health-risk behaviors present a self-control conflict in which the short-term outcomes of an action conflict with its long-term consequences. Across three studies, we find that an abstract construal level leads people to focus on long-term rather than short-term consequences when both are described in a message (vs. no message). Studies 1 and 2 explore this hypothesis through a risk behavior (snacking on sugary products), and Study 3 does the same through a health behavior (physical exercise). In Study 1, the Behavioral Identification Form scale is used to measure the construal level as a personal disposition; Studies 2 and 3 use a priming task designed by Freitas, Gollwitzer, and Trope to manipulate the construal level. All these studies show that, under an abstract mindset, people who have read a mixed-outcome message (vs. no message) tend to base their behavioral plans on long-term outcomes. Individually or in small groups (e.g. school class, therapy groups) health messages can be presented along with protocols to change construal level and thus, promote healthier intentions.

Keywords:

• Construal level
• health-risk behavioral intentions
• physical exercise
• snacking on sugary products

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by grant [PSI 2014-53321-P], Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain).

Notes on contributors

Pilar Carrera

Pilar Carrera is a professor in the Department of Social Psychology and Methodology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). Her main research lines include emotional experience, culture, affective-cognitive attitudes, prosocial behavior, risk-health behaviors and construal level.

Dolores Muñoz

Dolores Muñoz is an associate professor in the Department of Social Psychology and Methodology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). Her research interest is focused on mixed emotions and their relations with behaviors involving health-risk and environmental impact.

Itziar Fernández

Itziar Fernández is an associate professor in the Department of Social and Organizational Psychology at the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Open University). She has participated in cross-cultural research projects on attitudes, self-concepts, risk-health behaviors and emotions.

Amparo Caballero

Amparo Caballero is an associate professor in the Department of Social Psychology and Methodology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). The main theme of her research has been the contribution of the emotions to the explanation and prediction of helath-risk behavior.