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Can the effects of implementation intentions on exercise be enhanced using text messages?
A Prestwich1, M Perugini, R Hurling
1Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, United Kingdom. a.j.prestwich@leeds.ac.uk
Psychology & Health
|March 6, 2010
Summary
Combining implementation intentions with text message reminders significantly boosted exercise frequency more than using implementation intentions alone. This approach enhances self-regulation for health behavior change.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Health Psychology
- Self-Regulation
Background:
- Implementation intentions, a self-regulatory technique, are effective for behavior change.
- Text message reminders may strengthen the impact of implementation intentions.
- Combining these strategies could enhance health behavior modification, specifically exercise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if combining implementation intentions with SMS reminders enhances exercise behavior.
- To compare the effectiveness of this combined approach against implementation intentions alone and SMS reminders alone.
Main Methods:
- 155 participants were randomly assigned to five groups: implementation intentions + SMS, implementation intention only, SMS only, or control groups.
- Self-report measures of exercise behavior and motivation were collected at baseline and four weeks later.
- Statistical analysis compared exercise frequency changes across the different conditions.
Main Results:
- The combined intervention (implementation intentions + SMS) led to a significantly greater increase in exercise frequency.
- This combined approach outperformed implementation intentions alone and SMS reminders alone.
- Plan reminders appear to enhance the effects of implementation intentions on exercise.
Conclusions:
- Combining implementation intentions with SMS reminders is a potent strategy for increasing exercise frequency.
- SMS reminders can effectively enhance the self-regulatory impact of implementation intentions.
- This combined method offers a promising avenue for promoting health behavior change.
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