Self-regulation and protective health behaviour: How regulatory focus and anticipated regret are related to vaccination decisions |
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Authors: | Susanne Leder Arnd Florack Johannes Keller |
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Affiliation: | 1. Freie Universit?t Berlin, Berlin, Germanysusanne.leder@fu-berlin.de;3. Department of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria;4. Department of Social Psychology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany |
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Abstract: | Objective: We examined how individual motivational orientations and anticipated regret are related to the protective health decision of vaccination behaviour.Design: The proposed relations were examined in a large-scale sample (N = 3168) and three medium-sized samples (N = 151, N = 194, N = 208). Questionnaires were applied to assess regulatory focus, anticipated regret and vaccination behaviour.Results: Increased prevention-focused self-regulation – which is represented by concerns about security-related goals, responsibilities and obligations – was related to a greater likelihood of vaccination. Prevention-focused individuals’ higher likelihood of getting vaccinated seems at least in part to be a consequence of anticipated regret for not vaccinating. Study 3 suggests that regulatory focus is less related to vaccination decisions when regret is increased by the decision-making context; that is, when information highlighting vaccination effectiveness and a low likelihood of adverse responses is provided.Conclusion: Prevention-focused self-regulation is related to a greater likelihood of engaging in health-protective behaviour. This can be explained by prevention-focused individuals’ greater tendency to anticipate regret about getting ill as a consequence of not adopting protective measures. If people perceive a protective measure such as a vaccination as highly effective, anticipated regret for not adopting it is generally increased, and individual differences in regulatory focus no longer predict the decision. |
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Keywords: | self-regulation regulatory focus anticipated regret protective health behaviour vaccination |
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