Fear appeals and binge drinking: a terror management theory perspective

British Journal of Health Psychology
Donna C Jessop, Jennifer Wade

Abstract

The aim of the current research was to test the terror management theory-derived hypotheses that exposure to information about the mortality-related risks of binge drinking would make mortality salient (Study 1) and, hence, exacerbate willingness to binge drink amongst those who perceive this behaviour to benefit self-esteem (Study 2). STUDY 1: Participants (N=97) were allocated to one of five experimental conditions. Results confirmed that exposure to information about the mortality-related risks of binge drinking made mortality salient. STUDY 2: Participants (N=296) were allocated to one of three experimental conditions. Exposure to mortality-related information about the risks of binge drinking was found to result in greater willingness to binge drink among (i) binge drinkers and (ii) non-binge drinkers who perceived this behaviour to benefit self-esteem. There was no evidence, however, that exposure to such information influenced binge drinking over the following week. Research findings suggest that mortality-related health promotion campaigns might inadvertently make mortality salient, and hence precipitate the very behaviours which they aim to deter among some recipients.

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Citations

Feb 25, 2018·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Eileen Fs KanerBernard Burnand
Jul 6, 2010·Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools·Patrick Finn
Oct 8, 2015·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Christopher T Steinman, John A Updegraff
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Nov 14, 2017·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Brett W PelhamJeff Greenberg
Nov 21, 2020·Risk Analysis : an Official Publication of the Society for Risk Analysis·Clara Alida CutelloElizabeth Hellier

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