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Intertemporal Decision-Making in Health Behaviours: A Conceptual Analysis.
Sisi Fan1, Xinyi Lai1, Jun Ma1
1Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, China, csu.edu.cn.
Journal of Nursing Management
|May 19, 2026
Summary
This study defines intertemporal decision-making in health behaviours as the trade-offs individuals make between immediate and future health outcomes. Understanding these dynamic preferences is key to interpreting health choices and improving care.
Area of Science:
- Health behavior research
- Decision science
- Behavioral economics
Background:
- Daily health decisions involve trade-offs between short-term and long-term consequences.
- Understanding these decisions requires an intertemporal context to grasp underlying mechanisms.
- This is crucial for advancing research on health behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a conceptual definition for intertemporal decision-making in health behaviors.
- To develop a universal definition and conceptual model for this decision-making process.
- To provide a foundation for future research, education, practice, and policy.
Main Methods:
- Employed Walker and Avant's concept analysis technique (2019).
- Conducted a systematic literature search across major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EconLit, Scopus) up to March 2025.
- Reviewed dictionaries, grey literature, and reference lists for comprehensive data.
Main Results:
- Included 49 relevant papers in the analysis.
- Defined intertemporal decision-making in health behaviors as the process of choosing between short-term and long-term health behavior outcomes.
- Consequences involve both health and non-health aspects, as well as costs and benefits; dynamic preferences drive choices.
Conclusions:
- Developed a universal definition and conceptual model for intertemporal decision-making in health behaviors.
- This framework aids in interpreting individual health behaviors comprehensively.
- Contributes to improving healthcare practices, global health, and evidence-based care.
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