Anticipated regret and health behavior: A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Risk beliefs are central to most theories of health behavior, yet many unanswered questions remain about an increasingly studied risk construct, anticipated regret. The authors sought to better understand anticipated regret's role in motivating health behaviors.

Method

The authors systematically searched electronic databases for studies of anticipated regret and behavioral intentions or health behavior. They used random effects meta-analysis to synthesize effect sizes from 81 studies (n = 45,618).

Results

Anticipated regret was associated with both intentions (r+ = .50, p < .001) and health behavior (r+ = .29, p < .001). Greater anticipated regret from engaging in a behavior (i.e., action regret) predicted weaker intentions and behavior, whereas greater anti

SUBMITTER: Brewer NT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5408743 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature