scholarly journals Leveraging Self-Affirmation to Improve Behavior Change: A Mobile Health App Experiment (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Springer ◽  
Anusha Venkatakrishnan ◽  
Shiwali Mohan ◽  
Lester Nelson ◽  
Michael Silva ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND mHealth interventions can help to improve the physical well-being of participants. Unfortunately, mHealth interventions often have low adherence and high attrition. One possible way to increase adherence is instructing participants to complete self-affirmation exercises. Self-affirmation exercises have been effective in increasing many types of positive behaviors. However, self-affirmation exercises often involve extensive essay writing, a task that is not easy to complete on mobile platforms. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to adapt a self-affirmation exercise to a form better suited for delivery through a mobile app targeting healthy eating behaviors, and to test the effect of differing self-affirmation doses on adherence to behavior change goals over time. METHODS We examined how varied self-affirmation doses affected behavior change in an mHealth app targeting healthy eating that participants used for 28 days. We divided participants into the 4 total conditions using a 2×2 factorial design. The first independent variable was whether the participant received an initial self-affirmation exercise. The second independent variable was whether the participant received ongoing booster self-affirmations throughout the 28-day study. To examine possible mechanisms through which self-affirmation may cause positive behavior change, we analyzed three aspects of self-affirmation effects in our research. First, we analyzed how adherence was affected by self-affirmation exercises. Second, we analyzed whether self-affirmation exercises reduced attrition rates from the app. Third, we examined a model for self-affirmation behavior change. RESULTS Analysis of 3556 observations from 127 participants indicated that higher doses of self-affirmation resulted in improved adherence to mHealth intervention goals (coefficient 1.42, SE 0.71, P=.04). This increased adherence did not seem to translate to a decrease in participant attrition (P value range .61-.96), although our definition of attrition was conservative. Finally, we examined the mechanisms by which self-affirmation may have affected intentions of behavior change; we built a model of intention (R2=.39, P<.001), but self-affirmation did not directly affect final intentions (P value range .09-.93). CONCLUSIONS Self-affirmations can successfully increase adherence to recommended diet and health goals in the context of an mHealth app. However, this increase in adherence does not seem to reduce overall attrition. The self-affirmation exercises we developed were simple to implement and had a low cost for both users and developers. While this study focused on an mHealth app for healthy eating, we recommend that other mHealth apps integrate similar self-affirmation exercises to examine effectiveness in other behaviors and contexts.

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-473
Author(s):  
Wendy Madsen ◽  
Jenni Judd ◽  
Susan Lee Williams ◽  
Fiona McKenzie ◽  
Jay Deagon ◽  
...  

Background. Time insufficiency is frequently cited as a reason for poor dietary habits. This does not adequately explain the variations in how time is perceived as a factor in healthy eating. Aims. This study placed the eating behaviors of rural Australian women within the contexts of their stories to understand the factors that influenced healthy eating and how rural communities could enhance their health and well-being. Method. A three-phase sequential multimode narrative inquiry was used within four communities in rural Queensland, Australia. Each phase used a different mode of data collection: photo elicitation focus groups, narrative interviews, participatory workshops. Data were thematically analyzed iteratively to inform subsequent phases. Results. Nine final themes were identified. This article explored the theme of time and two contrasting perceptions of time sufficiency regarding healthy eating within a rural context during a drought. Discussion. Exploration of “time as a commodity” and “time as a duty” allowed a deeper understanding of time as a social and environmental determinant of health. Conclusion. Time’s influence on healthy eating is much more than the minutes it takes to prepare a meal. To fully appreciate its impact, time should be considered as a social and environmental determinant of health.


2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110514
Author(s):  
Jerica M. Berge ◽  
Nicole Larson ◽  
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer

The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence, predictors, and psychosocial well-being (depressive symptoms, stress) and weight-related behavior (eating behaviors, physical activity, and sedentary behavior) correlates of social distancing during COVID-19 among emerging adults. A rapid-response survey was sent to participants ( n=720; mean age=24.7 ± 2.0 years, 62% female) in a population-based cohort study in Minnesota during April–October 2020. Half of emerging adults reported fully social distancing. Emerging adults from White backgrounds were least likely to social distance while those from Asian backgrounds were most likely to social distance, in addition to those living with a parent. Females who partially/did not social distance reported less healthy eating behaviors, while males and “essential workers” reported higher levels of psychosocial distress. Public health messaging and practical supports for social distancing may need to be made more relevant to emerging adults during public health crises. Resources may need to differ depending on sex of emerging adult.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel L. Kulik ◽  
E. Whitney Moore ◽  
Erin E. Centeio ◽  
Alex C. Garn ◽  
Jeffrey J. Martin ◽  
...  

Background/Aim. Increased knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about a topic and behavioral capability and self-efficacy for healthy eating are often a precursor to behavior change. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the multicomponent school-based program on children’s healthy eating knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy for healthy eating, and on their eating habits over time. Method. Quasi-experimental (4 treatment, 2 comparison) in a metropolitan area using a pretest–posttest method. Participants were 628 fifth-grade youth (377 treatment, 251 comparison) with a mean age of 9.9 years. The Building Healthy Communities (BHC) program is an 8-month school-wide healthy school transformation program and includes six main components. Outcome measures include children’s healthy eating knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavior. Missing data were imputed, confirmatory factor analysis tested scale factor structure, and path analysis determined a parsimonious path explaining behavior change. Results. The Student Attitudes and Self-Efficacy (SASE) scale had good measurement model fit. BHC group’s healthy eating knowledge and behaviors increased significantly, while SASE remained moderate. For both groups, the students’ knowledge and SASE significantly predicted their healthy eating behaviors; however, the intervention group accounted for a greater amount of variance (35% vs. 26%). Discussion. The BHC program was effective in improving healthy eating knowledge and behavior among youth, and the relationship between variables did not vary by group. Healthy eating knowledge is a significant predictor of both future knowledge and behavior.


Author(s):  
Rungsaran Wongprawmas ◽  
Giovanni Sogari ◽  
Davide Menozzi ◽  
Nicoletta Pellegrini ◽  
Michele Lefebvre ◽  
...  

College students’ lifestyle and eating habits strongly affect their health. Among many healthy eating behaviors, including whole grain food in the diet is known as providing health benefits such as maintaining a steady blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and since it is rich in fiber and minerals, it is essential for the well-being. However, consumers’ intakes of whole grain products remain below recommendation, including college students. This study aims to evaluate determinant factors contributing to college students’ willingness to include whole grain pasta in their diets. A sample of 499 students enrolled in a US college participated in this study. Most students perceived whole grain pasta as healthy and filling and somewhat tasty. Availability and price were not barriers for consumption. Logistic regression results suggested that factors affecting students’ willingness to consume whole grain pasta in the future were the desire to eat, cognitive and affective attitudes, perception of whole grain pasta, as well as having already chosen pasta thanks to its availability at the dining. Two student segments were identified according to their healthy eating perception: Uninvolved and Health-conscious. Cognitive attitudes such as beneficial and essential had positive effects on consumption in both segments, suggesting that information provision covering specific health/nutritional benefits of whole grains for students is crucial.


2021 ◽  
pp. 019394592110216
Author(s):  
Yang Yu ◽  
Qianheng Ma ◽  
Isabel Diana Fernandez ◽  
Susan W Groth

Excessive postpartum weight retention conveys risks for future metabolic diseases. Eating behaviors influence postpartum weight retention; however, the modifiable predictors of eating behaviors remain unclear. Using data from a three-arm, randomized controlled trial, the purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal associations of mental health (e.g., depressive symptoms) and behavior change skills (e.g., self-efficacy) with eating behaviors (i.e., compensatory restraint, routine restraint, emotional eating, and external eating) among women (N = 424) over 18-months postpartum. Results revealed that depressive symptoms, perceived stress, healthy eating self-efficacy, overeating self-efficacy, self-weighing, and problem-solving confidence were associated with one or more of the examined eating behaviors. Furthermore, depressive symptoms moderated the association between healthy eating self-efficacy and routine restraint. Perceived stress moderated the associations between healthy eating/overeating self-efficacy and emotional eating. The findings suggest that mental health and behavior change skills may serve as targets for interventions designed to improve postpartum women’s eating behaviors. Clinical trials registry:ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01331564


Author(s):  
Christine Yeong Ying Pung ◽  
Seok Tyug Tan ◽  
Seok Shin Tan ◽  
Chin Xuan Tan

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) has upended education systems. The pandemic switched traditional face-to-face classes to online classes. Poor eating behaviors in undergraduate students’ lives may affect the well-being of their later stages of life. This study aimed to investigate the eating behaviors among online learning undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 122 students were recruited. The results revealed more than half of the respondents (52.46%) skipped meals. Breakfast (46.72%) was the most skipped meal. The majority of the respondents (94.26%) snacked between meals. Biscuits (88.52%), bread (84.43%), and fruits (80.33%) were the most common snacked foods. Meal skipping was found to be associated with gender (χ2 = 6.83, p < 0.05). In the future, more health interventions program aimed to promote healthy eating behaviors among undergraduates are highly warranted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-208
Author(s):  
Nelson Hun ◽  
Alfonso Urzúa ◽  
Antonio López-Espinoza ◽  
Nicole Escobar ◽  
José Leiva

Se ha reportado que el contexto universitario propicia un hábito alimentario inadecuado, orientado al consumo de alimentos de conveniencia caracterizados por ser de bajo costo, hipercalóricos, altos en grasas saturadas y de escaso valor nutritivo lo que aumenta el riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. En este contexto, la evidencia refiere que algunos indicadores psicológicos como mayores niveles de satisfacción vital y apoyo familiar se relacionan con una dieta de mayor calidad al mismo tiempo que es asociada a un menor índice de masa corporal. Sin embargo, existe un vacío teórico respecto a las distintas caracterizaciones de comportamientos alimentarios que guían la toma de decisiones relacionadas con las preferencias y consumo de alimentos en población universitaria. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar la relación existente entre caracterizaciones de comportamiento alimentario con el bienestar psicológico de estudiantes universitarios en el norte de Chile. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 647 estudiantes residentes en las ciudades de Arica y Antofagasta, el promedio de edad fue de 22 años, se utilizó el cuestionario de bienestar psicológico de Carol Ryff y el cuestionario holandés de conductas alimentarias. Los resultados indican que la ingesta emocional tiene el mayor efecto sobre el bienestar psicológico relacionándose significativa y negativamente con todas sus dimensiones, la tendencia restrictiva se asoció con autoaceptación, relaciones positivas y autonomía, finalmente la ingesta externa no reportó ningún efecto sobre el bienestar psicológico. Es necesario generar más evidencia de la relación entre variables psicológicas y alimentación. It has been reported that the university context fosters an inadequate eating habit, oriented to the consumption of convenience foods characterized by being low cost, hypercaloric, high in saturated fat and low nutritional value, which increases the risk of developing chronic noncommunicable diseases. In this context, the evidence refers that some psychological indicators such as higher levels of life satisfaction and family support are related to a higher quality diet while being associated with a lower body mass index. However, there is a theoretical gap regarding the different characterizations of eating behaviors that guide decision making regarding food preferences and consumption in the university population. The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between characterizations of eating behavior with the psychological well-being of university students in northern Chile. The sample consisted of 647 students residing in the cities of Arica and Antofagasta, the average age was 22 years, the Carol Ryff psychological well-being questionnaire and the Dutch food behavior questionnaire were used. The results indicate that emotional intake has the greatest effect on psychological well-being by being significantly and negatively related to all its dimensions, the restrictive tendency was associated with self-acceptance, positive relationships and autonomy; finally, external intake did not report any effect on psychological well-being. It is necessary to generate more evidence of the relationship between psychological variables and food.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
Widya Arisandy

Knowledge is the result of �know� and this is happening after they made a sensing towards an object certain .Sensing towards an object occur through panca human senses the sight , hearing , of smell , taste and touched with own .Knowledge about the implementation of the nurse strategy is obliged to understandable and in understand by a nurse soul .Many things can affect knowledge a nurse soul both internally and externally.Strategy the implementation of the act of nursing is a in made as a guide by a nurse if when interacting with disorder patients hallucinations.The purpose of research to know relations factors internal a nurse with knowledge nurse in the application of the implementation of the strategy in patients with disorder hallucinations in inpatient Rooms Hospital Ernaldi Bahar The Province Of South Sumatera 2017 . The kind of research done is research quantitative by using the method survey analytic approach in cross sectional .Technique the sample collection that is using a technique the sample collection total of sampling , the number of the sample are always 33 people .To research this independent variable consists of education , length of employment and the days of while dependent variable is knowledge nurse about strategy the implementation of the hallucinations . the results of this research was obtained one variable are associated than 3 variable internal factors researched namely working time with the results of p-value 0,011. Researchers hope from the results of this research , nurses can identify any factor that could affect the knowledge nurses and also can be used to understand the science of psychiatric Keywords : Nurses Knowledge, Strategy Implementation Hallucinations


1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 01
Author(s):  
Didit Damayanti ◽  
Pria Wahyu R.G ◽  
Muhanni’ah Muhanni’ah

Introduction: Disaster management is a dynamic, continual, and integrated process as to increase the qualities of the actions which are relevant to the process of observation and analysis of disaster as well as minimalizing the negative impacts, mitigation, readiness, early warning, immediate emergency, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The aim of this research is to analyse theconnection between disaster management and the prevention of community breakdown in order to face a volcanic eruption for every head of household. Method: The design of this research is correlational research with a cross sectional approach. The demographic group that is used for this research is the head of households in Rt 06/Rw 01 dusun Puncu desa Puncu, by using the purposive sampling technique which has been collected from the sampling of the 33 heads of households. Independent variable is the knowledge of disaster management, and the dependent variable is the prevention of community breakdown in the handling of the disaster. The data has been received by using the questionnaire, and the results have been analysed by using spearman rho test. Result:  As according to the statistics test, it is found that p-value= 0,000 on the significant level (α) = 0,05 and r = 0,752. It is concluded that there is a connection between knowledge and the prevention of community breakdown in handling of the volcanic eruption in Rt 06/Rw 01. This research shows that the level of knowledge within the community about disaster management and prevention in handling volcanic eruption has been increasing. Conclution: This is shown by the capability of the community in mitigating the effects of the disaster. It is hoped that the community will further engage in training education and simulation to reduce the negative impacts of a disaster. The location where the participants resideis Kelud Volcano, and it is therefore hoped that the communities are willing to participate in better handling of any disaster by joining the education training and simulation; Kata kunci : Pengetahuan, Manajemen bencana, Prevention.


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