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How habitual is everyday life? An ecological momentary assessment study
Amanda L Rebar1, Grace Vincent2, Katya Kovac Le Cornu2
1Health Promotion, Education & Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Psychology & Health
|September 18, 2025
Summary
Most everyday behaviors are habitual, with 65% being habitually instigated and 88% habitually executed. Understanding habit formation and disruption is key for effective behavior change interventions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Psychology
- Health Behavior
Background:
- Habits significantly influence everyday actions, yet previous research has not differentiated between habit instigation and execution.
- Understanding the prevalence of these habit types is crucial for designing effective behavior change interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of habitual instigation and habitual execution in everyday behaviors.
- To explore whether demographic factors influence the habitual nature of behaviors.
- To compare habit prevalence across different types of actions, such as exercise.
Main Methods:
- An ecological momentary assessment study involving 105 participants from the UK and Australia.
- Participants self-reported behaviors, habitual instigation, habitual execution, and intentionality six times daily for seven days.
Main Results:
- The majority of observed behaviors were habitually instigated (65%) and habitually executed (88%).
- Behavioral habits did not significantly vary with demographic factors.
- Exercise behaviors were more frequently habitually instigated but less habitually executed compared to other actions.
Conclusions:
- Habits exert a pervasive influence on daily life, affecting both the initiation and performance of actions.
- Behavior change interventions should incorporate strategies for both habit formation and habit disruption to enhance effectiveness.
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