MOOD INFLUENCES ON HEALTH-RELATED JUDGMENTS - APPRAISAL OF OWN HEALTHVERSUS APPRAISAL OF UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS

An experimental study assessed the impact of positive versus negative mood inductions on health-related judgments with respect to both self- appraisal of health (present health status, future health risks, unrea listic optimism), and appraisal of unhealthy behaviours' noxiousness c ompared to an untreated control condition. With respect to self-apprai sal of health it was hypothesized that there should be stronger effect s of negative mood than of positive mood, but that there should also b e a mood by specific judgment task interaction. With respect to unheal thy behaviours' noxiousness ratings it was assumed that positive mood leads to higher noxiousness ratings than negative mood. The findings s how that 23 per cent of the rating variances can be explained by the m ood factor. In accord with the predictions self-appraisal of health wa s more negative under negative mood, but - with one exception - not mo re positive under positive mood than in the respective control conditi on. The exception relates to a measure of unrealistic optimism. Also i n accord with the prediction positive mood led to higher noxiousness r atings of unhealthy behaviours than negative mood All mood effects wer e independent of the respondents' sex, health locus of control and of the number of illness days during the previous year. Under an applied perspective it is discussed how negative mood may exert a double detri mental influence on health care, whereas positive mood does not lead t o a 'happy go lucky' attitude.