Examining the implications of perceiving one’s future health as a goal or a standard for affect, motivation, and health behaviour

Based on an integrative self-regulatory framework, we examined the implications of viewing one’s anticipated future health as a goal (desired for the future) or a standard (desired at present). Two studies, one experimental (N = 747; M age = 25; 54% female) and one correlational (N = 407; M age = 24; 55% female), assessed beliefs about future health, affect, motivation, health behaviour intentions (both studies), and health behaviour choices...