Association between self-reported behavioral habits and their respective behavioral risk factors in individuals with...

The purpose of this paper is to measure the degree to which simple automatic habits assessed with the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI) are associated with validated measures of complex behavioral risk factors in an at-risk population of those with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

At baseline (2019-2022), 618 participants from 5 US cities who met criteria for MetS to qualify for the ELM trial were administered a series of measures to assess 4 habits (1/2 plate of vegetables at meals, daily brisk walks, pause before reacting, and notice sensory experiences) and 5 behavioral risk factors the habits were intended to represent (vegetable intake, moderate intensity physical activity, daily steps, emotional regulation, and sensory awareness). Spearman's rho correlations between each habit measure and its concomitant behavioral risk factor were calculated to assess criterion validity, spillover to other related behavioral risk factors, and discriminant validity relative to the Perceived Stress Scale.

Three of the four habits showed moderate correlations with their respective risk factors with ranges from r = 0.31 to r = 0.44 (all p < 0.001). The strongest association was an inverse correlation between the habit pause before reacting and perceived stress (r = -0.34, p < 0.001). The weakest associations were between the physical activity habit and accelerometer-assessed moderate intensity physical activity (r = 0.16) and daily steps (r = 0.18), both p < 0.001.

This study supports a correspondence between habits assessed by the SRHI and the more complex behavioral risk factors they are intended to represent. It justifies targeting simple habits in service of improving complex behavioral risk factors and managing clinical problems such as MetS.