Running head: SELF-REGULATION AND PROTECTIVE HEALTH BEHAVIOR 1 Self-Regulation and Protective Health Behavior: How Regulatory Focus and Anticipated Regret Are Related to Vaccination Decisions

Objective: We examined how individual motivational orientations and anticipated regret are related to the protective health decision of vaccination behavior. Design: The proposed relations were examined in a large-scale sample (N = 3,168) and three medium-sized samples (N = 151, N = 194, N = 208). Questionnaires were applied to assess regulatory focus, anticipated regret, and vaccination behavior. Results: Increased prevention-focused self-regulation—which is represented by concerns about security-related goals, responsibilities, and obligations—was related to a greater likelihood of vaccination. Prevention-focused individuals’ higher likelihood of getting vaccinated seems at least in part to be a consequence of anticipated regret for not vaccinating. Study 3 suggests that regulatory focus is less related to vaccination decisions when regret is increased by the decision-making context; that is, when information highlighting vaccination effectiveness and a low likelihood of adverse responses is provided. Conclusion: Prevention-focused self-regulation is related to a greater likelihood of engaging in healthprotective behavior. This can be explained by prevention-focused individuals’ greater tendency to anticipate regret about getting ill as a consequence of not adopting protective measures. If people perceive a protective measure such as a vaccination as highly effective, anticipated regret for not adopting it is generally increased, and individual differences in regulatory focus no longer predict the decision.