Intervention to Modify Habits: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Intervening to change clients’ habits in the course of their everyday occupations could improve health. Habit formation interventions are an emerging area of science, however, and there is a need to better understand the current state of habit intervention research. The objective of this study is to examine the evidence related to habit formation interventions to modify health habits among adults. We performed a scoping review of peer-review articles published since January 1, 2008. The majority of the 18 studies included in the review were randomized control trials using one of two measures to assess habit change. Studies targeted a range of habits. Trial results were mixed but supportive of habit formation approaches. Through habit formation interventions, a range of everyday behaviors can become a habit. Occupational therapy professionals can use data and results generated from this review to inform the development of occupation-based habit formation treatments.

Effectiveness, Moderators and Mediators of Self-regulation Intervention on Older Adults’ Exercise Behavior: a Randomized, Controlled Crossover Trial

“…Furthermore, the findings about the mediating roles of self-regulation in the relationship between intervention and habit strength indicate that the employment of self-regulation would be an effective strategy for habit formation. This finding empirically supports the framework for understanding habit formation and its determinants [ 33 , 40 ] and strengthens the current evidence about the strategies of habit [ 41 ]. However, the desirable effect of forming habit on behavior change was not replicable in the present study.…”

“…A review of self-regulation also argued that attempting to automate behavior is important for successful self-regulation [ 5 ]. Intervention studies have employed planning to form habits [ 41 ]. However, although self-regulation strategies are widely accepted as a way of forming a habit, few intervention studies have confirmed their mediation process.…”

Preferred Content in Occupational Therapy-Based Weight Loss Interventions: A Survey

“…Understanding differences in how men and women perceive habit formation treatment may be especially important in designing weight loss interventions. Although the goal of habit formation treatment is to increase the automaticity of behaviors, individuals must make conscious serious efforts to modify their behavior (Fritz et al, 2020). Present results indicate that men may be harder to motivate for making such effort.…”

The Impact of Nurse Health-Coaching Strategies on Cognitive—Behavioral Outcomes in Older Adults

“…Building Toward Sustainability is a cognitive-behavioral construct that addresses the "why" of the behavior change and the emerging core identity as one that enacts these healthy behaviors. Behavior-change literature has shown the sustainability of outcomes in the short term, such as a few weeks or months; however, sustaining results beyond six months is difficult, especially in obesity management [13]. To effect long-term sustainable changes, the NHC uses strategies to support permanent habits that help the target behavior [14,15], such as a "coupling ritual" anchoring medication to eating breakfast at the kitchen table every morning, which then transfers (i.e., cascade effect) to including healthier food choices at breakfast [9,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”