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Background Effective hand washing (for at least 20 s, with water and soap) is one of the health behaviors protecting against infection transmissions. Behavior change interventions supporting the initiation and maintenance of hand washing are crucial to prevent infection transmissions. Based on the Health Action Process Approach, the aim of this research was to conduct a pre-post analysis of hand washing and related cognitions (i.e., intention, self-efficacy, self-monitoring), measured up to 100 days following an intervention. Methods A convenience sample of N = 123 participants (age: M = 23.96 years; SD = 5.82; 80% women) received a brief intervention (key behavior change techniques: information about health consequences of hand washing; action planning) and responded to daily diaries and questionnaires up to a 100-day follow-up. Two-level models were used to analyze data of n = 89 participants who provided longitudinal data. Results Hand washing and self-monitoring increased, whereas intention and self-efficacy decreased over time. Only self-monitoring was a consistent positive correlate of hand washing on a between-person level. Conclusions Hand washing and self-monitoring considerably increased over several weeks following the intervention. Future research testing the intervention against a control condition is needed to rule out that changes in behavior and cognitions might have been prompted by completing the daily diaries. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Register; https://www.drks.de; registration number: DRKS00022067.

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Objectives: This study investigated reciprocal associations between meaning in life and physical quality of life (QOL) in the rehabilitation context. It was hypothesized that a higher level of meaning in life at Time 1 (T1) would predict better physical QOL at Time 2 (T2), and that better physical QOL (T1) would predict a higher level of meaning in life (T2). Research Method: This longitudinal study enrolled 339 participants (aged 19–84 years, 57.9% women) who provided self-report data (T1) at the beginning of the inpatient rehabilitation for central nervous system diseases (CNSD; e.g., stroke; n = 89) or musculoskeletal system diseases (MSD; e.g., dorsopathies; n = 250), and at the end of the inpatient rehabilitation (T2, 1-month follow-up). Data were collected in 6 inpatient rehabilitation centers. Manifest cross-lagged panel analyses were conducted for the total sample. Results: Path analyses indicated a significant cross-lagged-effect (.126, p < .002 [95% BCI: 0.020, 0.132]) from meaning in life (T1) to physical QOL at the follow-up (T2). Physical QOL (T1) did not precede meaning in life (T2). Conclusions: Among patients participating in rehabilitation due to CNSD or MSD, a higher level of meaning in life may precede better physical QOL. Interventions aimed at physical QOL improvement among patients who participated in an inpatient rehabilitation may benefit from a focus on raising patients’ meaning in life.