Attitudes mediate relationships between values and health behaviors among adolescents with asthma

Abstract

Explicit (affective and cognitive) and implicit attitudes are differently associated with health behaviors. In order to integrate these attitudes in health-related decision-making models it is important to understand their relationships with values. The present study investigates the mediation role of explicit (affective and cognitive) and implicit attitudes on the link between values and behavior among adolescents with asthma and their healthy peers. Results: Among adolescents with asthma cognitive and affective attitudes mediated relationships between the value of an exciting life / health value and risky / preventive behavior. Implicit attitudes were not related to values and mediated the relationship between affective attitudes and preventive behavior. Among healthy adolescents affective attitudes mediated the relationship between the value of an exciting life and preventive behavior. Thus, valuing health or an exciting life is associated with the attractiveness and usefulness of health behaviors for adolescents.