Open AccessCompensatory Health Beliefs Relate to Decision-Making Coherence and Health Patterns
Author(s) -
Bethany D. Merillat,
Claudia GonzálezVallejo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the ohio journal of science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.124
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 2471-9390
pISSN - 0030-0950
DOI - 10.18061/ojs.v119i2.6709
Subject(s) - psychology , overconfidence effect , social psychology , psychological intervention , cognition , perception , sample (material) , structural equation modeling , risk perception , developmental psychology , applied psychology , computer science , chemistry , chromatography , neuroscience , psychiatry , machine learning
This study tested hypotheses that link cognitive decision-making coherence and health behavioral patterns to the endorsement of compensatory health beliefs (CHBs). Structural equation modeling was used to investigate relationships among the latent variables Compensatory Health Beliefs and 2 other constructs: Decision-Making Coherence (measured by resistance to framing, under/overconfidence, applying decision rules, consistency in risk perception, and resistance to sunk cost bias), and Risk Tendencies with Health Consequences (measured by self-control, the Health Behavior Checklist, and risk perception scales). An online, adult, United States sample—recruited through Amazon.com®’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk)—was assessed. The model described key relationships for the MTurk sample. Low levels of Decision-Making Coherence and Risk Tendencies with Health Consequences were associated with increased endorsement of Compensatory Health Beliefs. Results can help clarify the relationship between health-related cognitions and actions, and impact the design of interventions that rely on the use of the CHB scale.