Investigating the Interplay of Self-Construal and Independent Vs. Interdependent Self-Affirmation

Abstract

This study examines how the relative effects of independent and interdependent self-affirmation might be influenced by individuals’ self-construal. A controlled experiment involving 186 Chinese adult smokers revealed a significant interactive effect of self-affirmation type and self-construal on message derogation and posttest attitudes toward smoking. For individuals with a dominant independent self-construal, independent self-affirmation (i.e., affirming the most important value to the self) led to less message derogation and more negative attitudes toward smoking than interdependent self-affirmation (i.e., affirming the most important value to the self and the family). In contrast, for individuals with a dominant interdependent self-construal, interdependent self-affirmation resulted in less message derogation and more negative attitudes toward smoking than independent self-affirmation. In addition, the interaction between self-affirmation type and self-construal had an indirect effect on perceived susceptibility to smoking-related diseases through message derogation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.