Habit and goal-related constructs in determining toothbrushing behavior: Two sensor-based longitudinal studies.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Health Psychology
• Dual-Process Theory

Background:

• Understanding determinants of health behaviors like toothbrushing is crucial for effective interventions.
• Dual-process theories propose that behavior is influenced by both automatic (habit) and controlled (goal-related) processes.
• Existing research often focuses on intention-based strategies, potentially overlooking the role of habits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the roles of habit strength, intention, and attitude in toothbrushing behavior from a dual-process perspective.
• To examine these associations at both interindividual and intraindividual levels.
• To compare self-reported and sensor-measured toothbrushing behavior.

Main Methods:

• Two longitudinal studies with young adults (N=40 and N=79) were conducted.
• Participants' toothbrushing behavior was measured using accelerometers and self-reports over several weeks.
• Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships between habit strength, intention, attitude, and behavior.

Main Results:

• Habit strength predicted future toothbrushing behavior, supporting the dual-process account.
• Habit strength moderated the influence of goal-related constructs on self-reported behavior at the interindividual level.
• Affective attitude was a stronger predictor of toothbrushing behavior than instrumental attitude.

Conclusions:

• Habit-based interventions should complement intention-based approaches for improving oral health routines.
• The affective component of toothbrushing is important for behavior change.
• Sensor-based objective measures offer potential for future research and interventions in oral health behavior.