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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 3/2012

01-06-2012 | Original Article

How Implicit Motives and Everyday Self-Regulatory Abilities Shape Cardiovascular Risk in Youth

Authors: Craig K. Ewart, Ph.D., Gavin J. Elder, M.A., Joshua M. Smyth, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2012

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Abstract

Background and Purpose

Tested hypotheses from social action theory that (a) implicit and explicit measures of agonistic (social control) motives and transcendence (self-control) motives differentially predict cardiovascular risk; and (b) implicit motives interact with everyday self-regulation behaviors to magnify risk.

Methods

Implicit/explicit agonistic/transcendence motives were assessed in a multi-ethnic sample of 64 high school students with the Social Competence Interview (SCI). Everyday self-regulation was assessed with teacher ratings of internalizing, externalizing, and self-control behaviors. Ambulatory blood pressure and daily activities were measured over 48 h.

Results

Study hypotheses were supported: implicit goals predicted blood pressure levels but explicit self-reported coping goals did not; self-regulation indices did not predict blood pressure directly but interacted with implicit agonistic/transcendence motives to identify individuals at greatest risk (all p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

Assessment of implicit motives by SCI, and everyday self-regulation by teachers may improve identification of youth at risk for cardiovascular disease.
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Metadata
Title
How Implicit Motives and Everyday Self-Regulatory Abilities Shape Cardiovascular Risk in Youth
Authors
Craig K. Ewart, Ph.D.
Gavin J. Elder, M.A.
Joshua M. Smyth, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-06-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9336-3

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