The Role of Anticipated Guilt in Intentions to Register as Organ Donors and to Discuss Organ Donation With Family

This project extends previous cognition-based organ donation research by addressing the role of anticipated guilt in individuals' intentions to register as donors and to discuss organ donation with family under the theoretical framework of the integrative model of behavioral prediction. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that after controlling for the influence of attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy, anticipated guilt positively predicted intentions and was a stronger predictor of intentions in the donor registration model than in the family discussion model. Anticipated guilt was in turn predicted by empathic concern and norms in the donor registration model and by empathic concern, attitudes, and norms in the family discussion model. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.