Unrealistic optimism is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.

Objective: Unrealistic optimism-typically conceptualized as underestimation of comparative risk-has been previously associated with poorer health behaviors and outcomes, but no research to date has examined the association between unrealistic optimism and subclinical or clinical disease endpoints. Here, cross-sectional data from one time point in the Pittsburgh Healthy Heart study are used to examine whether unrealistic optimism about risk of heart disease is associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a subclinical marker of atherosclerosis.

Methods: Participants were 148 adults aged 57-77.

An affective booster moderates the effect of gain- and loss-framed messages on behavioral intentions for colorectal cancer screening.

Previous research has demonstrated that loss-framed messages are more effective than gain-framed messages in motivating detection behaviors such as screening. The present study examined whether affective context moderates the degree to which message frame is associated with behavioral intentions to engage in colorectal cancer screening. In particular, we buttressed a framing manipulation with an "affective booster" to increase anticipated and anticipatory emotions associated with the framed messages.

Is the association between optimistic cardiovascular risk perceptions and lower rates of cardiovascular disease mortality explained by biomarkers of systemic inflammation or endothelial function? A case-cohort study.

Background: More optimistic perceptions of cardiovascular disease risk are associated with substantively lower rates of cardiovascular death among men. It remains unknown whether this association represents causality (i.e.

Worry as a moderator of the association between risk perceptions and quitting intentions in young adult and adult smokers.

Background: Although much work addresses the association between risk perceptions and behavior, much less attention has been devoted to identifying psychosocial and sociodemographic moderators of this relationship.

Purpose: We explored whether worry moderates the relationship between risk perceptions and behavioral intentions in an adult sample (where the relationship is typically positive) and a young adult sample (where we have found that the relationship can be negative).

Method: Two samples of smokers (adults and college students) were asked to report worry, risk perceptions, and quitting intentions as part of two cessation interventions.

Absolute and comparative risk perceptions as predictors of cancer worry: moderating effects of gender and psychological distress.

Risk perceptions for cancer measured on absolute scales (e.g., "What is the likelihood that you will get cancer?") and on comparative scales (e.