The Effects of Self-Enhancement on Mental and Cardiovascular Health

Abstract

Self-enhancement refers to unrealistically positive self-beliefs and is associated with better psychological as well as physiological coping with stress in Western cultures. The present research investigated how self-enhancement and health are related in Singapore. In Study 1, self-enhancement, general mental health and ambulatory blood pressure (over 7 hours) were measured. Self-enhancement was negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and ambulatory blood pressure, suggesting better psychological and physiological responses to stress. In Study 2, participants were randomly assigned to either a self-enhancing or self-effacing prime, which promoted and inhibited self-enhancement respectively. The self-enhancing group displayed significantly lower cardiovascular reactivity during a stressful arithmetic task, which was partially mediated by increased perceived control. The self-enhancing group also displayed greatest pupillary dilation in response to negative feedback on performance, while the converse was true for the self-effacing group. Findings are discussed in the context of self-enhancement being a situation-specific, emotion-focused coping strategy.