Citation

Jessop DC, Wade J. Br. J. Health Psychol. 2008; 13(Pt 4): 773-788.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK. d.jessop@sussex.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, British Psychological Society)

DOI

10.1348/135910707X272790

PMID

18208639

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current research was to test the terror management theory-derived hypotheses that exposure to information about the mortality-related risks of binge drinking would make mortality salient (Study 1) and, hence, exacerbate willingness to binge drink amongst those who perceive this behaviour to benefit self-esteem (Study 2). STUDY 1: Participants (N=97) were allocated to one of five experimental conditions. Results confirmed that exposure to information about the mortality-related risks of binge drinking made mortality salient. STUDY 2: Participants (N=296) were allocated to one of three experimental conditions. Exposure to mortality-related information about the risks of binge drinking was found to result in greater willingness to binge drink among (i) binge drinkers and (ii) non-binge drinkers who perceived this behaviour to benefit self-esteem. There was no evidence, however, that exposure to such information influenced binge drinking over the following week. CONCLUSIONS: Research findings suggest that mortality-related health promotion campaigns might inadvertently make mortality salient, and hence precipitate the very behaviours which they aim to deter among some recipients.

Language: en