Future Self Continuity and Health Behavior (2015)

Undergraduates: Samuel Brotkin, Aya Avishai-Yitshak

Faculty Advisor: Paschal Sheeran
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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The current study tests whether future self-continuity,or perceived connection with one's future self,predicts key health behaviors relevant to mortality and morbidity.This study employed Hershfield¿¿¿s (2011) composition of self-continuity: perceived vividness, similarity, and evaluation.In study 1, participants (N=300) completed an online questionnaire to test (a)whether future self-continuity predicts key behaviors relevant to mortality and morbidity(smoking, diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, sleep)over and above the influence of established self-concept variables(self-esteem, self-compassion, self-affirmation),and (b)whether consideration of future consequences mediates the influence of self-continuity on behavior.Of each of the components of self-continuity, evaluation of one¿¿¿s future self had the strongest association with health behavior.In study 2,participants(N=90)will be randomly assigned to a condition in which their evaluation towards their future self will be manipulated to assess whether evaluation of one¿¿¿s future self affects the intentions/willingness of health behavior.In study 3, participants'(N=90) evaluation towards their future self will be manipulated to test if one¿¿¿s view towards their future self alters their preference between long-term health and immediate gratification.The study will offer insights into the role of the self in determining health behavior, and suggest novel strategies that could be used to promote health behavior change.