Using a Goal Theoretical Perspective to Reduce Negative and Promote Positive Spillover After a Bike-to-Work Campaign.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Psychology
• Health promotion

Background:

• Behavioral change interventions often target specific behaviors over limited periods.
• Concerns exist regarding negative spillover effects post-intervention, such as reduced motivation or cross-behavioral declines.
• Goal theory provides a framework to understand how different goal structures influence intervention outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if interventions focused on a subordinate goal (specific behavior, limited time) trigger negative spillover.
• To examine if superordinate goals and/or action steps mitigate negative spillover or promote positive spillover.
• To test these effects within a real-world bike-to-work campaign.

Main Methods:

• An experimental field study with a longitudinal multilevel design involving 1,269 participants.
• Four conditions: subordinate goal only (control), subordinate goal with superordinate goals, subordinate goal with action steps, and subordinate goal with both.
• Data collected on cycling frequency, leisure activities, and dietary habits.

Main Results:

• The bike-to-work intervention resulted in no negative spillover effects.
• Participants increased cycling to work, maintained this behavior post-campaign, and showed positive spillover into leisure cycling and fruit/vegetable consumption.
• Superordinate goal groups cycled more frequently by the campaign's end; however, goal manipulations did not significantly impact long-term maintenance or cross-behavioral spillover.

Conclusions:

• Interventions focusing on subordinate goals do not necessarily lead to negative spillover effects.
• Positive spillover into other health behaviors (leisure cycling, diet) can occur.
• Further experimental field studies are needed to explore the nuances of goal-directed behavior change and spillover.