Self-management Processes Used by Healthy Middle-aged Women to Change Behaviors

The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand the processes women used to change osteoporosis prevention health behaviors. Twenty healthy, predominately white, middle-aged women engaged in an osteoporosis prevention program shared behavior change stories. Results indicated that behavior change was a highly personalized process influenced by a myriad of factors that are unique to the individual. Approaches to behavior change varied across individuals over time and were shaped by personal preferences, capacity, and past experiences. Rather than relying on a systematic approach to health behavior change, women selected and restructured aspects of research-based recommendations to match their personal needs and preferences. We identified four person-initiated behavior change processes: (a) picking and choosing, (b) doing it my way, (c) recognizing how I am doing, and (d) using prompts and feedback. Understanding the process people use to change behaviors might uniquely contribute to increasing the effectiveness of theory, research, intervention development, and clinical care.