Effects of Thinking About Reasons and Actions on Intentions to Perform Health Behaviors

This study examined the effects of directed thinking on intention to perform disease-detection and health-promotion behaviors. It was hypothesized that when participants thought about reasons for performing the behavior, they would have stronger intentions to perform health-promotion behaviors than disease-detection behaviors. Alternatively, when participants thought about actions, the difference in intention to perform health-promotion and disease-detection behaviors should not be found. This hypothesis was tested by directing some participants to think of reasons why either a disease-detection or a health-promotion behavior would be beneficial. Other participants were directed to think of as many actions as possible that would make either a health-promotion or disease-detection behavior enjoyable. The results supported the hypothesis.