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Objective: This experiment examined whether people respond differently to information about where they stand relative to peer behaviour or to expert behavioural recommendations, and whether responses depend on the attainability of these standards. Design: University students (N = 345) were randomly assigned to receive information about their exercise levels relative to peer behaviour or expert recommendations, both varying in attainability, or to a no-feedback control. Main Outcome Measures: Exercise-related cognitions were assessed immediately after feedback and exercise intentions and behaviour were assessed one month later. Results : Among those who received expert recommendations, immediate perceived comparative risk as well as exercise intentions one month later were higher if the standard was more attainable. Those who received peer information reported more exercise minutes in the past week if the standard was less attainable. Conclusion: These outcomes provide evidence that attainability of the standard should be a consideration for norm- and information-based health behaviour interventions.

Strong health messages may result in reactance, increasing unhealthy behaviors. Reactance is purported to be derived of both cognitive and affective factors. The current study investigated the extent to which these cognitive and affective reactance components accounted for the link between message exposure on intentions and behavior. Emerging adults who never attended college (N = 244) completed an online study assessing anger and negative cognitions towards high or low threat anti-binge drinking messages. Intentions to drink and binge drink in the next week and drinking behaviors 1 week later were assessed. High threat messages elicited more anger and negative cognitions than low threat messages. High threat messages had a significant total indirect effect on intentions but had no effect on drinking behaviors. These outcomes suggest that while immediate cognitive and affect reactance has an effect on intentions, it may not influence longer-term decision making and may not outweigh benefits of strong messages.

Justice-involved youth are at a higher risk of negative outcomes from sexual activity and alcohol use relative to their non-justice involved peers. In the current study, we tested the extent to which variability in neurocognitive response (i.e., activation in the right superior parietal lobule; rSPL) during a risky decision-making task moderated the success of a sexual risk reduction intervention. In a cluster randomized trial blocked by gender, justice-involved adolescents (N = 269) first completed a risky decision-making task during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session, then were assigned to an information-only control (GINFO) or sexual risk reduction intervention incorporating alcohol risk reduction content (GPI + GMET) and then re-contacted every three months for one year. Youth in the GPI + GMET intervention reported less sexual risk behavior 12 months after intervention than those in the control. Although neurocognitive activation was associated with sexual risk behavior, it did not moderate intervention outcomes. This risk-reduction intervention appears to work equally well across a range of neurocognitive responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 global pandemic is an unprecedented health threat for which behavior is critical to prevent spread and personal factors could contribute to decisions for protective action. The purpose of this study was to describe associations of COVID-19 related behaviors capturing a snapshot in time during the height of the first wave of the pandemic. We tested perceptions of likelihood and severity of infection, worry, and their associations with behavior. We further explored relationships by demographic characteristics, and tested main and interactive relationships between these characteristics and beliefs and protective behaviors. Using an online cross-sectional survey, U.S. adults (N = 795) reported their perceptions of likelihood and severity of, and worry about, contracting COVID-19 for self and others, and engagement in protective behaviors. In bivariate tests, all cognitive and affective beliefs were positively associated with hygiene behaviors, but only worry and personal and others' severity were associated with greater likelihood of social distancing. Controlling for other beliefs and demographic factors, perceived personal severity remained associated with social distancing, and worry with hygiene behaviors. How people think and feel about risk could have implications for communicating information about this novel health threat and motivating action to mitigate its spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research concerning motives for smoking cessation has focused on beliefs (cognitions) that people have, especially risk perceptions, with less attention directed to worry (negative affect) concerning one’s smoking. We tested a manipulation to encourage smokers to think and worry more about their smoking behavior. We contrasted risk perceptions and worry as predictors of contemplation to quit smoking. Smokers were randomly assigned to two conditions in which they carried personal digital assistants for 2 weeks. When signaled, smokers read smoking consequence statements or daily hassle statements. After 2 weeks, experimental smokers reported greater perceived risk and worry about developing a medical condition compared to control smokers. Both perceived risk and worry independently mediated the relationship between the experimental manipulation and increased contemplation to quit smoking; however, worry was the strongest mediator in a multiple mediation model. Worry may be foremost for motivating smokers to attempt quitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]