Article

The "Ick" Factor, Anticipated Regret, and Willingness to Become an Organ Donor

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Citation

O'Carroll R, Foster C, McGeechan G, Sandford K & Ferguson E (2011) The "Ick" Factor, Anticipated Regret, and Willingness to Become an Organ Donor. Health Psychology, 30 (2), pp. 236-245. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022379

Abstract
Objective: This research tested the role of traditional rational-cognitive factors and emotional barriers to posthumous organ donation. An example of an emotional barrier is the "ick" factor, a basic disgust reaction to the idea of organ donation. We also tested the potential role of manipulating anticipated regret to increase intention to donate in people who are not yet registered organ donors. Design: In three experiments involving 621 members of the United Kingdom general public, participants were invited to complete questionnaire measures tapping potential emotional affective attitude barriers such as the "ick" factor, the desire to retain bodily integrity after death, and medical mistrust. Registered posthumous organ donors were compared with nondonors. In Experiments 2 and 3, nondonors were then allocated to a simple anticipated regret manipulation versus a control condition, and the impact on intention to donate was tested. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported emotional barriers and intention to donate in the future. Results: Traditional rational-cognitive factors such as knowledge, attitude, and subjective norm failed to distinguish donors from nondonors. However, in all three experiments, nondonors scored significantly higher than donors on the emotional "ick" factor and bodily integrity scales. A simple anticipated regret manipulation led to a significant increase in intention to register as an organ donor in future. Conclusions: Negative affective attitudes are thus crucial barriers to people registering as organ donors. A simple anticipated regret manipulation has the potential to significantly increase organ donation rates.

Keywords
organ, donor, donation, disgust, posthumous; Donation of organs, tissues, etc. ; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc. ; Organ donors Great Britain ; Regret

Journal
Health Psychology: Volume 30, Issue 2

StatusPublished
Publication date31/03/2011
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/9197
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association
ISSN0278-6133

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Professor Ronan O'Carroll

Professor Ronan O'Carroll

Professor, Psychology

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