Renee E. Magnan
Associate Professor
Director of Experimental Training
Ph.D. North Dakota State University, 2008
Contact Information
Email: renee.magnan@wsu.edu
Office: VCLS 208R
Phone: (360) 546-9403
Lab Website: WSU Health and Social Psychology Research
Classes Taught
- Psychology 320: Health Psychology
- Psychology 312: Experimental Methods in Psychology
- Psychology 350: Social Psychology
- Psychology 523: Health Psychology (Graduate Seminar)
- Psychology 550: Social Psychology (Graduate Seminar)
Research Interests
- Cognitive versus affective predictors of health behaviors (physical activity, tobacco use, cannabis use…)
- Perceptions of harms, benefits, and knowledge about ambiguous health behaviors such as e-cigs and cannabis use
- Communicating risk information (e.g., cigarette graphic warnings)
- Health decision-making
I apply social psychological theory to address issues in preventive health behaviors and health behavior promotion. Specifically, much of the research in my lab focuses on understanding the role that affect (e.g., worry) plays on health decisions and behavior (e.g., smoking cessation, exercise, cannabis). I am interested in both how one’s feelings about health behaviors may influence their decisions to engage in health behavior and also how health behaviors may influence one’s feelings. Both perspectives can provide important insight to identify targets for interventions to prevent negative health consequences and promote wellness.
Dr. Magnan will be considering graduate student applications for Fall 2024 admission to the Experimental Psychology PhD Program.
Selected Publications
Magnan, R.E., Gibson, L.P., & Bryan, A.D. (2021). Cognitive and affective risk beliefs and their association with protective health behavior in response to the novel health threat of COVID-19. Journal of Behavioral medicine, 44, 285-295 https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa071
Magnan, R.E., Hamilton, W.K., Shorey-Fennell, B.R., & Cameron, L.D. (2020). Experimental test of the educational impact of the newly proposed FDA graphic cigarette warnings among U.S. adults. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa071
Shorey Fennell, B.R., & Magnan, R.E. (2019). Reactance to anti-binge drinking messages: Testing cognitive and affective mechanisms among noncollege emerging adults. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 42, 984-990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-019-00018-3
Magnan, R.E., & Ladd, B.O. (2019). “It’s all good”: Perceived benefits but not perceived risks or worries among adult marijuana users. Cannabis, 2, 112-119. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis.2019.02.001
Magnan, R.E. (2017). Comparisons of health-related and appearance-related smoking risk perceptions and worry on motivation to quit. Health Psychology Open, 4. doi: 10.1177/20551029177295411. PMID: 29379619.
Magnan, R.E., & Cameron, L.D. (2015). Do young adults perceive that cigarette graphic warnings provide new knowledge about the harms of smoking? Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 49, 594-604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-015-9691-6
Magnan, R.E., Köblitz, A. R., McCaul, K. D., & Dillard, A., J. (2013). Self-monitoring effects of ecological momentary assessment on smokers’ perceived risk and worry. Psychological Assessment, 25, 416-423. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031232
Magnan, R. E., Kwan, B. M., & Bryan, A. D. (2013). Effects of current physical activity on affective response to exercise: Physical and social-cognitive mechanisms. Psychology and Health, 28, 418-433. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2012.733704
Magnan, R.E., Nilsson, R., Marcus, B.H., Ciccolo, J.T., & Bryan, A.D. (2013). A transdisciplinary approach to the selection of moderators of an exercise promotion intervention: baseline data and rationale for Colorado STRIDE. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 36, 20-33.
