Deliberative and non-deliberative effects of descriptive and injunctive norms on cancer screening behaviors among African Americans

• Published in: Psychology & health Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 1 - 794
• Main Authors: Manning, Mark, Lucas, Todd, Davis, Stacy N, Valdimarsdottir, Heiddis B, Thompson, Hayley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 20.11.2019
• Subjects: African Americans; cancer screening; secondary prevention; Subjective norms; non-deliberative effects
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2019.1691725
• ISSN: 0887-0446

Two longitudinal studies examined whether effects of subjective norms on secondary cancer prevention behaviors were stronger and more likely to non-deliberative (i.e., partially independent of behavioral intentions) for African Americans (AAs) compared to European Americans (EAs), and whether the effects were moderated by racial identity. Study 1 examined between-race differences in predictors of physician communication following receipt of notifications about breast density. Study 2 examined predictors of prostate cancer screening among AA men who had not been previously screened.Main Outcome Measures: Participants' injunctive and descriptive normative perceptions; racial identity (Study 2); self-reported physician communication (Study 1) and PSA testing (Study 2) behaviors at follow up. In Study 1, subjective norms were significantly associated with behaviors for AAs, but not for EAs. Moreover, there were significant non-deliberative effects of norms for AAs. In Study 2, there was further evidence of non-deliberative effects of subjective norms for AAs. Non-deliberative effects of descriptive norms were stronger for AAs who more strongly identified with their racial group. Subjective norms, effects of which are non-deliberative and heightened by racial identity, may be a uniquely robust predictor of secondary cancer prevention behaviors for AAs. Implications for targeted screening interventions are discussed.