WHEN GOOD-NEWS IS BAD-NEWS - MEDICAL WELLNESS AS A NONEVENT IN UNDERGRADUATES

Study 1 demonstrated that information about healthy functioning can am plify health concerns and erode diagnostic confidence. Undergraduate S s received a hypothetical test showing some level of cells associated either with pathology or with its absence. The moderate wellness resul t produced low confidence in one's health estimate and was distressing to receive. Wellness information may represent an ambiguous nonevent when testing for disease. Study 2 tested this thesis by adding Ss who adopted a recovering role to those adopting an illness role. Judgmenta l uncertainty was greatest-and equivalent-among recovering Ss given th e moderate illness result and among ailing Ss given a moderate wellnes s result, and both groups were most willing to consider taking a risky treatment for the disease.