Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The importance of affective processes for health behavior change is well-established, but little research has assessed the accuracy and impact of affective forecasts for health behaviors. In a longitudinal study of 8 health behaviors (N = 574), we addressed the following: (1) How accurate are affective forecasts about health behaviors? (2) Does accuracy influence health behavioral performance? (3) Does accuracy influence future motivation? (4) What factors contribute to forecasting accuracy? We found that people generally underestimated how good health behaviors would feel. Both overestimation and underestimation predicted lower behavioral performance and motivation. However, accurate forecasts predicted increased behavior and motivation, above and beyond Reasoned Action Approach variables and habit. Additionally, forecasts that were positive and accurate were associated with increased behavior and motivation. Higher anticipated affect, increased behavioral performance, and greater use of cognitive reappraisal improved forecasting accuracy. This study underscores the importance of affective forecasting for health behavior change.
DOI: 10.17615/pnrn-z008
Author: Yang, Michelle
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6887807885
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