You should not take the absolute value of the coefficient--although this would let you know the effect of a 1-unit decrease in X. Think of it this way: Using the original negative coefficient, this equation shows the percentage change in Y for a 1-unit increase in X: > (exp[−0.0564*1]−1)⋅100=−5.48 Your "absolute value" equation actually shows the percentage change in Y for a 1-unit decrease in X: > (exp[-0.0564*-1]−1)⋅100=5.80 You can use a [percentage change calculator][1] to see how both of these percentages map onto a 1-unit change in X. Imagine that a 1-unit change in X were associated with a 58-unit change in linear Y: - Our linear version of Y going from 1,000 to 1,058 is a 5.8% increase. - Our linear version of Y going from 1,058 to 1,000 is a 5.482% decrease. [1]: http://www.csgnetwork.com/percentchangecalc.html