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 (Study 2). In both studies, whether anticipated future health functioned as a goal or as a standard did not moderate the predictive effects of the magnitude of perceived discrepancy and perceived rate of discrepancy reduction between one’s current and anticipated future health. However, greater perceived discrepancy reduction predicted more positive affect, greater motivation, and stronger health behaviour intentions. Thus, irrespective of whether future health functions as a goal or a standard, it may be most productive to perceive a greater rate of progress toward a healthier future.