Caso, D. orcid.org/0000-0002-6579-963X, Carfora, V. orcid.org/0000-0002-4111-6443, Capasso, M. orcid.org/0000-0002-9094-5635 et al. (2 more authors) (Cover date: February 2021) Using Messages Targeting Psychological versus Physical Health Benefits to Promote Walking Behaviour: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 13 (1). pp. 152-173. ISSN 1758-0846
Abstract
Background This study aimed to test the efficacy of a messaging intervention targeting psychological or physical benefits plus goal setting and self-monitoring strategies to promote walking activity in the university context.
Methods Two hundred and thirty university students from the University of Naples Federico II were randomly allocated to one of four conditions: physical health messages + self-monitoring, psychological health (well-being) messages + self-monitoring, self-monitoring, and no messages. All three intervention conditions were exposed to goal setting (doing at least 7,000 steps a day) and participants were required to monitor their daily progress through the specific step counting app. Participants’ walking activity and related psychological variables were assessed at T1 and T2. We ran ANCOVAs and mediation analysis to test our research questions and hypotheses. Analyses were based on the N = 156 who completed all measures at both time points.
Results Participants in the three experimental (message) conditions reported improvement in psychological variables and behaviour. In particular, the messages focused on the physical health benefits, combined with self-monitoring, were the most effective.
Conclusions Our study provides new information on the factors that could be usefully targeted to promote walking activity (i.e. intention, past behaviour, action control, and persuasive messages on the physical benefits of walking).
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Carfora, V, Conner, M, Caso, D, Catellani, P. Rational and moral motives to reduce red and processed meat consumption. J Appl Soc Psychol. 2020; 50: 744–755. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12710, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12710. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. |
Keywords: | goal setting; messaging intervention; persuasive communication; physical activity; self-monitoring; walking |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Psychology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 13 Nov 2023 11:40 |
Last Modified: | 20 Nov 2023 13:08 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/aphw.12224 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:205210 |