Mental contrasting of a negative future facilitates COVID-19 preventative behaviors: two randomized controlled trials.
Psychol Health
; : 1-23, 2022 Apr 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35410548
ABSTRACT
Objective:
The present research examined whether mentally contrasting a negative, feared future (i.e., infection with the Coronavirus) with a still positive reality can promote preventative actions in the context of the pandemic.Design:
In two randomized controlled trials, we varied participants' mode of thought (mental contrasting of a negative future with a positive reality versus fantasizing of a negative future). Study 2 took into account the interpersonal nature of the pandemic and manipulated the mode of thought in a vicarious manner (vicarious mental contrasting versus vicarious negative fantasizing). Main OutcomeMeasures:
After the manipulation, we assessed participants' intentions to learn about COVID-19 (Study 1) and attention to COVID-19 information (Study 1 and 2). Three days later, we measured the amount of physical distancing (Study 1 and 2).Results:
Study 1 found that mental contrasting leads to more COVID-19 preventative behaviors than mere negative fantasizing. In Study 2, we observed that vicarious mental contrasting facilitates physical distancing among people who initially showed low compliance with COVID-19 preventative behaviors and thus were in most need of a boost in preventative behavior.Conclusion:
The findings suggest that mental contrasting of negative fantasies may be an effective way to encourage COVID-19 preventative behaviors.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article