Dispositional Motivations and Message Framing: A Test of the Congruency Hypothesis in College Students.
- 1 January 2004
- journal article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Health Psychology
- Vol. 23 (3) , 330-334
- https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.23.3.330
Abstract
The authors examined the congruency hypothesis that health messages framed to be concordant with dispositional motivations will be most effective in promoting health behaviors. Undergraduate students (N=63) completed a measure of approach/avoidance orientation (behavioral activation/inhibition system) and read a gain- or loss-framed message promoting flossing. Results support the congruency hypothesis: When given a loss-framed message, avoidance-oriented people reported flossing more than approach-oriented people, and when given a gain-framed message, approach-oriented people reported flossing more than avoidance-oriented people. Discussion centers on implications for health interventions and the route by which dispositional motivations affect health behaviors through message framing.Keywords
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