Journal article
The Effects of Implicit Theories on Body Weight Information Avoidance
Experimental psychology, v 70(3), pp 180-191
May 2023
PMID: 37830766
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Regular self-weighing is associated with more effective weight control, yet many individuals avoid weight-related information. Implicit theories about weight, or perceptions of how malleable weight is, predict more effortful weight management and may also influence weight-related information avoidance. Participants (N = 209) were randomly assigned to read an article stressing an incremental theory of weight (i.e., weight is malleable), an article stressing an entity theory (i.e., weight is fixed), or to a control condition. We then examined their self-reported preference to avoid their body composition (i.e., body fat, weight, and muscle composition), their willingness to have their body composition measured during the lab visit, and their eating and exercise intentions. There were no notable differences across conditions, but higher self-reported incremental beliefs predicted less self-reported avoidance of body composition. The findings suggest that implicit theories may influence weight-related information avoidance, but a brief manipulation is not powerful enough to create meaningful change.
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Details
- Title
- The Effects of Implicit Theories on Body Weight Information Avoidance
- Creators
- Charlotte Joyce Hagerman - Drexel University, WELL Center
- Publication Details
- Experimental psychology, v 70(3), pp 180-191
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Corp; Boston, MA
- Number of pages
- 12
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- WELL Center
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001087690000006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85174752367
- Other Identifier
- 991021861286704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Experimental