Do self-affirmation manipulations reduce self-directed negative emotion?

Powell, Philip and Hobson, Laura and Simpson, Jane and Overton, Paul (2013) Do self-affirmation manipulations reduce self-directed negative emotion? Psychology and Health, 28 (Suppl.). p. 292. ISSN 0887-0446

Abstract

Background: Self-affirmation manipulations have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects on health-related cognition and behaviour, but their effects on emotional well-being are poorly understood. The present research explored whether affirming the self alters emotion towards two broad self-domains. Methods: 56 participants (37 female, M age = 33.16, SD = 11.27) were randomised to either a kindness self-affirmation manipulation or a neutral control task. Participants completed measures of perceived threat and indices of emotion towards their physical appearance and behaviour. Findings: Affirmed individuals reported significantly lower levels of perceived threat and negative emotion towards their appearance than non-affirmed participants. The groups did not significantly differ on measures of affect towards their behaviour. Discussion: The findings suggest self-affirmation reduces negative emotion in an unrelated self-domain. This provides insight into self-affirmation mechanisms and suggests it may be a useful technique for increasing emotional well-being, by reducing particular self-directed negative emotions.