From Ability to Behavior: Health Competence Predicts Daily Tendencies in Approach Coping and Healthy Behavior

We developed a general ability measure of health competence (HC) and used it to predict individuals’ daily health- and coping-related decisions. High HC predicted approach-oriented coping, healthy and responsible intentions and behaviors, and health-related thoughts, and low HC predicted use of avoidance coping and unhealthy intentions and behaviors.