The boomerang effect of pharmaceutical treatment on the willingness to adopt healthy lifestyle
(R2020-85001)

AUTHORS

Amir Heiman, The Hebrew university of Jerusalem; Eyal Ert, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Yacov Tsur, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Ofra Kalter Leibovich , Gertner Institute; Kathleen Abu-Saad, Gertner Institute

KEYWORDS

health; risk; boomerang

ABSTRACT

This study explores whether the relationship between chronic pharmaceutical treatment and making efforts to maintain healthy lifestyle are indeed complementary or substitute means to reduce health risk. The possible tradeoff between adopting healthy life style and pharmaceutical treatment, which evolve from psychological biases and perceptions of costs, is analyzed using a medical records database of a sample of diagnosed hypertension patients. Our results suggest a dual boomerang effect when it comes to physical activity. Specifically, adhering with hypertension pharmaceutical treatment reduces the likelihood of meeting the threshold for physical activity recommendation. The reversal relationship is also significant.