Coping self-efficacy influences health information avoidance

Bibliographic Data

ID4228907
AuthorsJacqueline Hua (0000-0001-6426-4193, University of California, Merced), Jennifer L Howell (0000-0001-5418-3736, University of California, Merced)
Year2022
Volume27
Issue3
Pages713-725
Publication date2022-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Health Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1359-1053 • E-ISSN: 1461-7277
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1359105320965664
OpenAlexW3093690118
LanguageEN
Citations received22
References cited43

Avoiding information about one's health can have long-term implications for health and well-being. Two studies examined the relationship between health information avoidance and coping self-efficacy, or a sense that one can effectively cope. In Study 1, coping self-efficacy, but not general self-efficacy, was associated with information avoidance. In Study 2, participants who reflected on their positive coping strategies were less likely to avoid learning their risk for disease as compared to those who did not reflect on their coping strategies. These findings suggest that coping self-efficacy is a good target for future interventions aimed at reducing health information avoidance

Avoidance coping · Coping (psychology · Information seeking · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Self-efficacy · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Clinical Psychology · Social Psychology

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