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Research Overview
Charles Abraham is a social and health psychologist working in the "attitude-behavior" field of social cognition. His research models motivational and volitional processes that regulate health behaviors and could be harnessed in interventions designed to change health behavior. He works on extending predictive cognitive models of health behavior, including explanations of the intention-behavior gap. For example, he has studied the role of anticipated regret and intention stability as moderators of the intention-behavior relationship. He also designs and tests theory-based interventions and is interested in identifying behavior change techniques that can distinguish between effective and ineffective behavior change interventions. For example, he was the psychologist on the team awarded the SHARE grant to rigorously test a theory-based sex education program in Scotland. He has worked on a number of interventions which have been designed to change theory-of-planned-behavior-specified cognitions (such as attitudes and intentions) and to include other theory-based components. He has worked on a range of behaviors including, condom use, exercise, diet, smoking and alcohol use. He uses both quantitative and qualitative methods in his research.
Education
D. Phil., University of Sussex, 1982 (social psychology)
B.A., University of Sussex, 1978 (social psychology)
Featured Publications
Luszczynska, A., Sobczyk, A, & Abraham, C (in press, 2007) Planning to lose weight: RCT of an implementation intention prompt to enhance weight reduction among overweight and obese women. Health Psychology.
Abraham, C., Southby, L., Quandte, S., Krahé, B. & van der Sluijs, W (2007). Identifying Research-Based Persuasive Messages in Health Promotion Texts: An Analysis of Widely Available European Alcohol-Education Leaflets. Psychology and Health, 22, 31-60.
Murgraff, V., Abraham, C. & McDermott (2007). Reducing Friday alcohol consumption among moderate women drinkers: Evaluation of a brief evidence-based intervention. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 42, 37-41.
Kellar, I . & Abraham, C. (2005). Randomised Controlled Trial of a Brief Research-Based Intervention Promoting Fruit and Vegetable Consumption. British Journal of Health Psychology, 10, 543-558.
Abraham, C., Henderson, M., & Der, G. (2004) Cognitive Impact of Research-Based School Sex Education. Psychology and Health, 19, 689-703.
Kelley, K. & Abraham, C. (2004). RCT of a Theory-Based Intervention Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Amongst Out-Patients Over 65. Social Science and Medicine, 59, 787-797.
Michie, S. & Abraham, C. (2004). Interventions to change health behaviours: Evidence-based or evidence inspired? Psychology and Health, 19, 29-49.
Abraham, C., & Sheeran, P. (2003). Acting on intentions: The role of anticipated regret. British Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 495-511.
Sheeran, P., & Abraham, C. (2003). The Importance of Temporal Stability of Intention Relative to Other Moderators of the Intention-Behavior Relation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 205-215.
Wight, D., Raab, G. M., Henderson, M., Abraham, C., Buston, K., Hart, G., & Scott, S (2002). Limits of teacher-delivered sex education: interim behavioural outcomes from randomised trial. British Medical Journal, 320, 1243-44.
Conner, M., & Abraham, C. (2001). Conscientiousness and the Theory of Planned Behaviour: Towards a more complete model of the antecedents of intentions and behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 1547-1561.
Ruiter, R. A. C., Abraham, C.. & Kok, G. (2001). Scary warnings and rational precautions: A review of the psychology of fear appeals. Psychology and Health, 16, 613-630.
Jones, F., Abraham, C., Harris, P., Schulz, J., & Chrispin C. (2001). From knowledge to action regulation: Modeling the cognitive prerequisites of sunscreen use in Australian and UK samples. Psychology and Health, 16, 191-206.
Abraham, C., Clift, S., & Grabowski, P. (1999). Cognitive predictors of adherence to malaria prophylaxis regimens on return from a malarious region: a prospective study. Social Science and Medicine, 48, 1641-1654.
Sheeran, P., Abraham, C., & Orbell, S. (1999). Psychosocial correlates of condom use: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 90-132.
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