Experiential attitude and anticipated affect as influences on health behaviours

Abstract

Recent research has explored the effects of two affective influences within models such as the theory of planned behaviour and reasoned action approach: experiential attitude and anticipated affect. Published and new primary and meta-analytic data supporting the role of these two affective variables on health behaviour will be presented. The correlational data uses prospective designs and controlled for other health cognitions and past behaviour where possible. The experimental data examines whether the affective variables mediate the impact of the intervention on behaviour. Strong support is found across studies for both experiential attitude and anticipated affect as important determinants of health behaviours even when controlling for other health cognitions and past behaviour. The need for further experimental studies with objective measures of health behaviour is noted. Further the testing of the combined effects of manipulating both affective variables is highlighted for further attention.