Possible selves and health behavior in adolescents: A systematic review

ABSTRACT

We conducted a systematic review of studies focused on the influence of possible selves on health-risk and health-promoting behaviors in adolescents. Fourteen studies were reviewed. Most studies focused on health-risk behaviors, with substance use the most frequently addressed outcome. Drawing firm conclusions based on study findings was hampered by the lack of convergence in possible self properties addressed and inconsistencies in methodology. However, possible self properties that show the most promise are likelihood of achieving a possible self in a target domain and presence of a possible self in a target domain. Findings have important implications for guiding future research on health behaviors in adolescents and indicate that possible selves may be an important target for designing health-promoting and risk-reduction interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-cognition
• future selves
• goals
• risk behaviors
• substance use
• physical activity

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge Karen Dunn Lopez for her guidance on systematic review procedures and data extraction.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.