The Role of Affect Regulation in Health Behavior Change

Objective: This research explores the relationship between affect regulation and health behavior change through two studies. Study 1 tested whether difficulties with affect regulation are associated with lower health-related behavioral intentions. Study 2 introduces the Calibrate and Qualify Model to examine the role of cognitive reappraisal in predicting health-related intentions and behavior. We posit that reappraisal could impact health behaviors either by shaping the favorability of health-related attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control, thereby increasing intentions and subsequently behavior (Calibrate Route) or by serving as a moderator, such that healthful cognitions better predict intentions and behavior at high levels of cognitive reappraisal (Qualify Route). Method: Study 1 was a cross-sectional study of 15 health behaviors (N = 319) that measured reasoned action approach (RAA) variables and difficulties in emotion regulation. Study 2 was a 3-month longitudinal study (N = 807) of eight health-related behaviors that tested the Calibrate and Qualify Model predictions using measures of cognitive reappraisal, RAA variables, and habit. Results: Difficulties in emotion regulation, and limited access to affect regulation strategies in particular, predicted intentions to perform health behaviors (Study 1). Findings from Study 2 supported the Calibrate Route: cognitive reappraisal predicted intentions, and the reappraisal–intention relation was mediated by RAA variables. Supporting the Qualify Route, we observed a three-way interaction between habit, reappraisal, and intention, indicating that cognitive reappraisal combined with strong intentions attenuated the influence of habit on behavior. Conclusions: Our research suggests that affect regulation is an important consideration for predicting and understanding health behaviors.