Introduction
Many young adults demonstrate insufficient rates of physical activity (PA) to yield health benefits. The study tested the effectiveness of a text messaging intervention targeting key psychological determinants and PA.
Methods
Participants received either attitude messages, goal priority messages, a combination of these, or generic PA information (control). After confirming that groups were matched at baseline, a 2 (attitude: yes vs. no) by 2 (goal priority: yes vs. no) by 2 (time: immediately post-intervention, four weeks post-intervention) randomized control trial tested main and interactive effects.
Results
Results showed participants that received attitude messages had significantly more positive attitudes, intentions and rates of PA. Mediational analyses showed the influence of attitude messages on PA to be fully mediated through the serial path via attitude and intention. There were no other main or interactive effects.
Conclusion
The study provides support for using attitudinal messages delivered via text messaging to influence key psychological determinants and PA.
The ability to regulate and subsequently change behavior is influenced by both reflective and implicit processes. Traditional theories have focused on conscious processes by highlighting the beliefs and intentions that influence decision making. However, their success in changing behavior has been modest with a gap between intention and behavior apparent. Dual-process models have been recently applied to health psychology; with numerous models incorporating implicit processes that influence behavior as well as the more common conscious processes. Such implicit processes are theorized to govern behavior non-consciously. The article provides a commentary on motivational and volitional processes and how interventions have combined to attempt an increase in positive health behaviors. Following this, non-conscious processes are discussed in terms of their theoretical underpinning. The article will then highlight how these processes have been measured and will then discuss the different ways that the non-conscious and conscious may interact. The development of interventions manipulating both processes may well prove crucial in successfully altering behavior.
The first year of university study provides an ideal opportunity to target student participation in many health behaviors such as recreational sport. The study used the theory of planned behavior to identify the key behavioral, normative, and control beliefs underlying student participation in recreational sport. A cross-sectional design was used with a 4-week follow-up. A purposive sample of 206 participants responded to a theoretically informed questionnaire measuring baseline cognitions. Follow-up behavior was measured using self-report questionnaires. All beliefs correlated with intention, and seven beliefs correlated with behavior. Four key beliefs predicted intention (“enjoyable,” “time consuming,” “friends,” and “family members”) and two key beliefs predicted behavior (“enjoyable” and “time consuming”). Interventions successfully targeting these specific beliefs may lead to a greater number of students participating in recreational sport.
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