Abstract
BackgroundThe health regulatory focus is an application of Higgins’ regulatory focus theory to a health-specific context. It explains individual differences in health motivation, strategies, and behavior. Previous research found the Health Regulatory Focus Scale (HRFS) to be a reliable and valid measure for the construct. However, an evaluation of the HRFS in a representative sample has not been performed as of yet. Neither are there any normative values available.MethodsWe collected a representative sample from the German general population to perform a confirmatory factor analysis, an analysis of measurement invariance, and to calculate norm values.ResultsA two-factor model evinced good model fit with a good reliability for the two subscales. We found evidence for strict invariance across gender groups and partial strict invariance across age groups. In addition, we are presenting normative values for the general population.ConclusionsThe findings of the present study are in line with previous research in confirming the HRFS as a valid and reliable tool suitable for the assessment of the health regulatory focus. The reported normative values allow for comparisons of individuals with their respective sociodemographic group.
Highlights
The health regulatory focus is an application of Higgins’ regulatory focus theory to a health-specific context
Correlations between health prevention focus and health promotion focus vary between r = 0.16 and r = 0.57 [4]
Health prevention focus is associated with neuroticism, negative self-evaluations, motivational inhibition, and impaired mental health [8, 11]
Summary
The health regulatory focus is an application of Higgins’ regulatory focus theory to a health-specific context. It explains individual differences in health motivation, strategies, and behavior. To allow for an efficient assessment of individual differences in health motivation and behavior, Gomez and colleagues [4] developed the Health Regulatory Focus Scale (HRFS) evaluating the health-specific regulatory. In terms of convergent and discriminant validity, health promotion focus shows moderate correlations with optimism, positive self-evaluations, and approach motivation [8,9,10]. Health prevention focus is associated with neuroticism, negative self-evaluations, motivational inhibition, and impaired mental health [8, 11]. Health promotion predicts health outcomes positively, while health prevention is associated negatively [12, 13]
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