In modern health care, individuals frequently exercise choice over treatment alternatives. A growing body of research suggests that when choose between options, effectiveness can increase, although little experimental evidence exists clarifying this effect. Four studies were conducted to test the hypothesis exercising alternatives enhances outcomes by providing greater personal control. Consistent with possibility, in Study 1 who chronically desired control reported less pain from a...

Prior studies with patient samples have found dispositional optimism to be associated less pain. We examined the relationship between and experimental It was hypothesized that optimists generally cope a painful stimulus by mentally disengaging from However, if are prompted think about health well-being prior event, they more responsive Optimists pessimists were primed words related or neutral cold pressor task. Pain, distress, cardiovascular reactivity task assessed. Dispositional lower pain...

Purpose Adult cochlear implant (CI) users rate music as one of the most important auditory stimuli, second to speech perception. However, few studies simultaneously examine perception and speech-in-noise in adult CI recipients. This study explores effect status on recognition noise well relationship among engagement, perception, Method Participants include 10 adults with typical hearing (TH) long-term use. All participants completed Music-Related Quality Life Questionnaire, which assesses...

Two experiments investigated the hypothesis that treatment choice enhances placebo efficacy. In Experiment 1, prior to a pain task, participants were given either an expectation two (inert) products could reduce or no expectation. addition, selected between assigned product use. Participants both and reported lowest pain. 2 conceptually replicated this finding using paradigm with aversive auditory stimuli. Additional control conditions indicated availability (rather than restriction)...

Research indicates that when confronted with a health threat, individuals high in both dispositional and comparative optimism employ more avoidant style of coping than but low optimism. We examined the hypothesis threat distance moderates this interactive association. In two studies, participants were randomly assigned to looming or distant condition. Study 1 revealed condition, forms likely minimise less inclined seek additional information relative 2, same interaction pattern emerged on...

ABSTRACT Every day we use products and treatments with unknown but expected effects, such as using medication to manage pain. In many cases, have a choice over which or use; however, in other people choose for us choices are unavailable. Does choosing (versus not choosing) implications how product treatment is experienced? The current experiments examined the role of choice‐making facilitating so‐called expectation assimilation effects —or situations person's experiences (e.g., discomfort...

Comparative optimism and dispositional are typically studied separately little is known regarding their unique combined predictive abilities. We examined how these two types of predict cognitive affective reactions following unpleasant dental health feedback (Studies 1 2) neutral (Study 2). In Study 1, a measure comparative interacted to appraisals feedback. 2, new information negative - but not Individuals scoring high in low were more interested receptive the than those both optimism....

Experiments have found that choosing between placebo analgesics can reduce pain more than being assigned a analgesic. Because earlier research has shown prior experience moderates choice effects in other contexts, we tested whether with stimulus this placebo-choice association. Before cold water task, participants were either told an inert cream would their or they not information. Additionally, chose one of two creams for the task given choice. Importantly, also measured immersion....