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Can Simple Psychological Interventions Increase Preventive Health Investment?

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  • Anett John
  • Kate Orkin

Abstract

Behavioral constraints may explain part of the low demand for preventive health products. We test the effects of two light-touch psychological interventions on water chlorination and related health and economic outcomes using a randomized controlled trial among 3,750 women in rural Kenya. One intervention encourages participants to visualize alternative realizations of the future, and the other builds participants’ ability to make concrete plans. After 12 weeks, visualization increases objectively measured chlorination, reduces diarrhea episodes among children, and increases savings. Effects on chlorination and savings persist after almost 3 years. Effects of the planning intervention are weaker and largely insignificant. Analysis of mechanisms suggests both interventions increase self-efficacy—beliefs about one’s ability to achieve desired outcomes. Visualization also increases participants’ skill in forecasting their future utility. The interventions do not differentially affect beliefs and knowledge about chlorination. Results suggest simple psychological interventions can increase future-oriented behaviors, including use of preventive health technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Anett John & Kate Orkin, 2022. "Can Simple Psychological Interventions Increase Preventive Health Investment?," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 20(3), pages 1001-1047.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jeurec:v:20:y:2022:i:3:p:1001-1047.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeea/jvab052
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    Cited by:

    1. Pakhtigian, Emily L. & Aziz, Sonia & Boyle, Kevin & Akanda, Ali S. & Hanifi, M.A., 2022. "Early Warning Systems, Mobile Technology, and Cholera Aversion: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh," RFF Working Paper Series 22-24, Resources for the Future.
    2. Campos-Mercade, Pol & Meier, Armando N. & Schneider, Florian H. & Wengström, Erik, 2021. "Prosociality predicts health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    3. Lea Cassar & Mira Fischer & Vanessa Valero, 2022. "Keep Calm and Carry On: The Short- vs. Long-Run Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on (Academic) Performance," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0002, Berlin School of Economics.
    4. Sania Ashraf & Cristina Bicchieri & Upasak Das. Alex Shpenev, 2023. "Valuing Open Defecation Free Surroundings: Experimental Evidence from a Norm-Based Intervention in India," Papers 2312.16205, arXiv.org.
    5. Abel,Martin & Carranza,Eliana & Geronimo,Kimberly Jean & Ortega Hesles,Maria Elena, 2022. "Can Temporary Wage Incentives Increase Formal Employment ? Experimental Evidence from Mexico," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10234, The World Bank.
    6. Pascaline Dupas & Basimenye Nhlema & Zachary Wagner & Aaron Wolf & Emily Wroe, 2023. "Expanding Access to Clean Water for the Rural Poor: Experimental Evidence from Malawi," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 272-305, February.
    7. Gao, Lifei & Wang, Dongni & Wang, Guojun & Shi, Hao, 2025. "Does online payment promote the purchase of commercial insurance? Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    8. Pakhtigian, Emily L. & Aziz, Sonia & Boyle, Kevin J. & Akanda, Ali S. & Hanifi, S.M.A., 2024. "Early warning systems, mobile technology, and cholera aversion: Evidence from rural Bangladesh," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    9. Chiara Aina & Andrea Amelio & Katharina Brütt, 2023. "Contingent Belief Updating," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 263, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    10. Laura Derksen & Jason T Kerwin & Natalia Ordaz Reynoso & Olivier Sterck, 2025. "Healthcare Appointments as Commitment Devices," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(665), pages 81-118.
    11. Étienne Dagorn & Martina Dattilo & Matthieu Pourieux, 2022. "Preferences matter! Political Responses to the COVID-19 and Population’s Preferences," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes & University of Caen) 2022-01, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes, University of Caen and CNRS.
    12. Webb, Duncan, 2024. "Silence to Solidarity: Using Group Dynamics to Reduce Anti-Transgender Discrimination in India," CEPREMAP Working Papers (Docweb) 2402, CEPREMAP.
    13. Hidrobo, Melissa & Karachiwalla, Naureen & Roy, Shalini, 2023. "The impacts of cash transfers on mental health and investments: Experimental evidence from Mali," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 608-630.
    14. David Mckenzie & Simone Bertoli & Elie Murard, 2023. "Migration, families and counterfactual families," Post-Print hal-04310187, HAL.
    15. Derksen, Laura & Kerwin, Jason Theodore & Reynoso, Natalia Ordaz & Sterck, Olivier, 2021. "Appointments: A More Effective Commitment Device for Health Behaviors," SocArXiv y8gh7, Center for Open Science.
    16. Cassar, Lea & Fischer, Mira & Valero, Vanessa, 2022. "Keep Calm and Carry On: Immediate- vs. Six-Month Effects of Mindfulness Training on Academic Performance," CEPR Discussion Papers 17675, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    17. Johannes Haushofer & Robert Mudida & Jeremy P. Shapiro, 2020. "The Comparative Impact of Cash Transfers and a Psychotherapy Program on Psychological and Economic Well-being," NBER Working Papers 28106, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    18. Gallegos, Sebastian & Roseth, Benjamin & Cuesta, Ana & Sánchez, Mario, 2023. "Increasing the take-up of public health services: An at-scale experiment on digital government," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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