Assessment of the Predictors and Moderators of Health Behavior Change
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 6/17/2018 |
| Start Date: | March 1, 2017 |
| End Date: | June 13, 2018 |
This study will investigate three interventions—values clarification, planning, or combined
(values clarification + planning)—for increasing goal-consistent health behavior (e.g.,
exercise or dieting). The investigators will also examine how intervention effects differ
based on various psychological and neuropsychological factors, to better understand how
interventions can be tailored to specific individuals.
The investigators hypothesize a) that the combined intervention will increase goal-consistent
exercise behavior more than the other interventions; and b) that individuals scoring higher
on self-concordance or goal-commitment will benefit more from planning, whereas those with
more positive expectancies or scoring higher on neuropsychological measures (e.g., working
memory) will benefit more from values clarification.
(values clarification + planning)—for increasing goal-consistent health behavior (e.g.,
exercise or dieting). The investigators will also examine how intervention effects differ
based on various psychological and neuropsychological factors, to better understand how
interventions can be tailored to specific individuals.
The investigators hypothesize a) that the combined intervention will increase goal-consistent
exercise behavior more than the other interventions; and b) that individuals scoring higher
on self-concordance or goal-commitment will benefit more from planning, whereas those with
more positive expectancies or scoring higher on neuropsychological measures (e.g., working
memory) will benefit more from values clarification.
The study will be a repeated measures design examining the between-subjects effect of
intervention condition (values clarification, planning, and combined) on self-reported health
goal progress and related outcomes at 1-week and 4-week follow-up, relative to baseline.
Based on this design, participants will first be instructed to generate a health-related goal
on which they want to make progress over the course of the next month (following procedures
adapted from Little, 1993, and Sheldon & Kasser, 1998; see details below). Participants will
then be randomly assigned (using a random number table) to one of three intervention
conditions: (1) values clarification, (2) planning, and (3) combined (values clarification +
planning). All conditions are described in more detail below. Fifty-three participants will
be randomized to each condition. Questionnaire measures assessing a variety of psychological
variables as well as neuropsychological measures will be modeled as between-subject predictor
and/or moderator variables of goal-consistent health behavior. Additionally, differences in
self-concordance, goal commitment, and expectancies of success will be modeled as potential
moderator and/or mediator variables.
intervention condition (values clarification, planning, and combined) on self-reported health
goal progress and related outcomes at 1-week and 4-week follow-up, relative to baseline.
Based on this design, participants will first be instructed to generate a health-related goal
on which they want to make progress over the course of the next month (following procedures
adapted from Little, 1993, and Sheldon & Kasser, 1998; see details below). Participants will
then be randomly assigned (using a random number table) to one of three intervention
conditions: (1) values clarification, (2) planning, and (3) combined (values clarification +
planning). All conditions are described in more detail below. Fifty-three participants will
be randomized to each condition. Questionnaire measures assessing a variety of psychological
variables as well as neuropsychological measures will be modeled as between-subject predictor
and/or moderator variables of goal-consistent health behavior. Additionally, differences in
self-concordance, goal commitment, and expectancies of success will be modeled as potential
moderator and/or mediator variables.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Boston University Psychology 101 students at least 18 years of age
- Able to provide informed consent for the study
- Sufficient command of the English language
- Have experience using a computer and mouse
Exclusion Criteria:
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