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Can Simple Psychological Interventions Increase Preventive Health Investment?

Author

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  • Johannes; Haushofer
  • Anett; John
  • Kate Orkin

Abstract

Behavioral constraints may explain part of 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 3750 women in rural Kenya. One intervention encourages participants to visualize alternative realizations of the future; one builds participants' ability to make concrete plans. Both interventions include information on health benefits of chlorination. After twelve weeks, both interventions increase the share of households who chlorinate drinking water and reduce child diarrhea episodes. Analysis of mechanisms suggests both interventions increase self-efficacy—beliefs about one's ability to achieve desired outcomes—as well as the salience of chlorination. They do not differentially affect beliefs and knowledge about chlorination (compared to a group who receive only information), nor affect lab measures of time preferences or planning ability. Results suggest simple psychological interventions can increase use of preventive health technologies.
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Suggested Citation

  • Johannes; Haushofer & Anett; John & Kate Orkin, 2019. "Can Simple Psychological Interventions Increase Preventive Health Investment?," CSAE Working Paper Series 2019-09, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    • Handle: RePEc:csa:wpaper:2019-09
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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. 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.
    3. Webb, Duncan, 2024. "Silence to Solidarity: Using Group Dynamics to Reduce Anti-Transgender Discrimination in India," CEPREMAP Working Papers (Docweb) 2402, CEPREMAP.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    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. 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.
    10. Laura Derksen & Jason. T Kerwin & Natalia Ordaz Reynoso & Olivier Sterck, 2021. "Appointments: A More Effective Commitment Device for Health Behaviors," CSAE Working Paper Series 2021-13, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    11. 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.
    12. Chiara Aina & Andrea Amelio & Katharina Brütt, 2023. "Contingent Belief Updating," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 263, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. David Mckenzie & Simone Bertoli & Elie Murard, 2023. "Migration, families and counterfactual families," Post-Print hal-04310187, HAL.
    16. 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.
    17. 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).
    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

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • 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

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