Role Models' Influence On Smoking Reduction

<p>Research on social influence has indicated that role models can motivate individuals to change their behaviors and strive for success in the domains of education, occupation, and health. Positive and negative role models have been shown as effective agents of social influence through different mechanisms. Although public health advocates argue that role models can influence smoking cessation, systematic research has yet to investigate the effects of social influence on quitting smoking. The present study investigated the effects of role model influence on smoking cessation. Participants read a story about one of four role models: positive health, negative health, positive social, and negative social role model. Participants then immediately reported willingness to reduce or cease smoking behaviors. These questions were repeated two weeks later. It was found that negative role models were more effective than positive role models in motivating individuals to stop smoking. The study shows important implications for future investigations examining social influence on health-relevant behaviors such that negative role models may be most effective at motivating young adults to reduce or refrain from negative health behaviors associated with detrimental outcomes.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Lin, Phoebe

Contributors dc:contributor

• Antonia Abbey

• health
• role models
• social influence
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/782

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wayne.edu:oa_dissertations-1781