Jeon HJ, Ratner K, Wang Q. The effects of labelling and health identity on subjective health.
Br J Health Psychol 2023;
28:174-187. [PMID:
35996959 DOI:
10.1111/bjhp.12618]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Labels are used to describe people every day, and these labels can affect people's subjective health. However, little is known about how existing health identity (i.e., stable identification with being a healthy person) shapes these effects. This study examined the effect of health-related labelling on subjective health, and the potential role of existing health identity in moderating this association.
METHODS
Participants (N = 309) first answered questions related to their health identity, namely, the extent to which they identified with being a healthy person. Next, they were presented with a series of scenarios reflecting healthy (n = 154) or unhealthy (n = 155) labels. Participants' subjective health ratings were then measured using a self-report scale ranging from (0) "Worst health among age" to (100) "Best health among age."
RESULTS
Beyond chronological age effects, exposure to healthy labels was associated with higher ratings of subjective health. Participants with a greater health identity showed an amplified positive response to being labelled a healthy person.
CONCLUSIONS
Social-cognitive processes, both in terms of stable identity and situational labelling, inform subjective health. These perceptions may impact actual health downstream. Our results suggest that health identity and health-related labels may be used in future interventions to bolster objective health outcomes.
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