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Uncovering an existential barrier to breast cancer screening behavior

Uncovering an existential barrier to breast cancer screening behavior
Uncovering an existential barrier to breast cancer screening behavior
The present research applies an analysis derived from terror management theory to the health domain of breast examination, and in doing so uncovers previously unrecognized factors that may contribute to women’s reluctance to perform breast self-examinations (BSEs). In Study 1, when concerns about mortality were primed, reminders of human beings’ physical nature (i.e., creatureliness) reduced intentions to conduct BSEs compared to reminders of humans’ uniqueness. In Study 2, women conducted shorter exams on a breast model (an experience found to increase death-thought accessibility) when creatureliness was primed compared to a uniqueness and no essay condition. In Study 3, after a creatureliness prime, women performed shorter BSEs when a placebo did not provide an alternative explanation for their discomfort compared to when it did. Advances for theory and breast self-exam promotion are discussed.
terror management theory, breast self-exams, creatureliness
0022-1031
260-274
Goldenberg, Jamie L.
0a9ae29b-37be-441a-b401-b95baaac3880
Arndt, Jamie
9f74041c-58f9-43b5-96f1-19dda49b7d87
Hart, Joshua
59d3272a-3ff7-4d78-9d35-b757a14a910f
Routledge, Clay
c1e0088a-3cc4-4d54-bbd3-de7d286429d8
Goldenberg, Jamie L.
0a9ae29b-37be-441a-b401-b95baaac3880
Arndt, Jamie
9f74041c-58f9-43b5-96f1-19dda49b7d87
Hart, Joshua
59d3272a-3ff7-4d78-9d35-b757a14a910f
Routledge, Clay
c1e0088a-3cc4-4d54-bbd3-de7d286429d8

Goldenberg, Jamie L., Arndt, Jamie, Hart, Joshua and Routledge, Clay (2008) Uncovering an existential barrier to breast cancer screening behavior. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44 (2), 260-274. (doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2007.05.002).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The present research applies an analysis derived from terror management theory to the health domain of breast examination, and in doing so uncovers previously unrecognized factors that may contribute to women’s reluctance to perform breast self-examinations (BSEs). In Study 1, when concerns about mortality were primed, reminders of human beings’ physical nature (i.e., creatureliness) reduced intentions to conduct BSEs compared to reminders of humans’ uniqueness. In Study 2, women conducted shorter exams on a breast model (an experience found to increase death-thought accessibility) when creatureliness was primed compared to a uniqueness and no essay condition. In Study 3, after a creatureliness prime, women performed shorter BSEs when a placebo did not provide an alternative explanation for their discomfort compared to when it did. Advances for theory and breast self-exam promotion are discussed.

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Submitted date: 1 September 2006
Published date: March 2008
Keywords: terror management theory, breast self-exams, creatureliness

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 40496
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/40496
ISSN: 0022-1031
PURE UUID: 7eb6c253-8475-43e1-b7c9-571ff1b79643

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 28 Feb 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:19

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Contributors

Author: Jamie L. Goldenberg
Author: Jamie Arndt
Author: Joshua Hart
Author: Clay Routledge

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