Changing health-promoting behaviours through narrative interventions: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Narrative interventions utilize storytelling to influence health behaviors.
• Understanding the effectiveness of narrative interventions is crucial for public health.
• Previous research shows mixed results on behavior change determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize studies on narrative interventions targeting health behaviors.
• To assess the impact of narrative interventions on health-promoting behaviors and their determinants.
• To identify gaps in the literature regarding narrative intervention effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Searched five public health and psychology databases for English-language, peer-reviewed studies.
• Included studies that quantitatively reported results of narrative interventions.
• Included 52 studies meeting the inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• 14 out of 52 studies reported positive changes in health-promoting behaviors.
• Results regarding changes in theoretical determinants of behavior were mixed.
• Narrative interventions demonstrate potential but require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Narrative interventions are a promising strategy for health behavior change.
• Further research is necessary to refine the application of narrative interventions.
• Optimizing the use of narrative interventions requires understanding specific contexts and mechanisms.