OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to determine whether individual differences in regulatory focus (Higgins, 1998) would differentially predict the initiation and maintenance of behavioral change. We hypothesized that people high in promotion focus because they eagerly pursue new positive end-states, would be better able to initiate behavioral change, whereas people higher in prevention focus because they tend to be vigilant in avoiding losses as a means to preserve desired end-states, would be better able to maintain change. DESIGN: We examined our hypotheses in longitudinal studies of smoking cessation and weight loss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Our outcome measures were smoking status and weight. RESULTS: In both interventions, promotion focus, but not prevention focus, predicted successful initiation; people higher in promotion focus had higher quit rates and lost more weight through the first 6 months of follow-up. Of participants who had initial success, prevention focus, but not promotion focus, predicted successful maintenance; people higher in prevention focus were more likely to remain smoke-free and maintain weight loss over the next year. CONCLUSION: A fit between behavioral task and regulatory focus can facilitate the successful performance of meaningful behaviors over time.
OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to determine whether individual differences in regulatory focus (Higgins, 1998) would differentially predict the initiation and maintenance of behavioral change. We hypothesized that people high in promotion focus because they eagerly pursue new positive end-states, would be better able to initiate behavioral change, whereas people higher in prevention focus because they tend to be vigilant in avoiding losses as a means to preserve desired end-states, would be better able to maintain change. DESIGN: We examined our hypotheses in longitudinal studies of smoking cessation and weight loss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Our outcome measures were smoking status and weight. RESULTS: In both interventions, promotion focus, but not prevention focus, predicted successful initiation; people higher in promotion focus had higher quit rates and lost more weight through the first 6 months of follow-up. Of participants who had initial success, prevention focus, but not promotion focus, predicted successful maintenance; people higher in prevention focus were more likely to remain smoke-free and maintain weight loss over the next year. CONCLUSION: A fit between behavioral task and regulatory focus can facilitate the successful performance of meaningful behaviors over time.
Authors: Ryan J Shaw; Hayden B Bosworth; Susan S Silva; Isaac M Lipkus; Linda L Davis; Ronald S Sha; Constance M Johnson Journal: Am J Med Date: 2013-09-16 Impact factor: 4.965
Authors: Rebecca A Ferrer; Isaac M Lipkus; Jennifer L Cerully; Colleen M McBride; James A Shepperd; William M P Klein Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2017-11-14 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Dara G Friedman-Wheeler; Hilda Rizzo-Busack; Elizabeth McIntosh; Anthony H Ahrens; David A F Haaga Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2010-01-06 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: Elizabeth H Evans; Vera Araújo-Soares; Ashley Adamson; Alan M Batterham; Heather Brown; Miglena Campbell; Stephan U Dombrowski; Alison Guest; Daniel Jackson; Dominika Kwasnicka; Karim Ladha; Elaine McColl; Patrick Olivier; Alexander J Rothman; Kirby Sainsbury; Alison J Steel; Ian Nicholas Steen; Luke Vale; Martin White; Peter Wright; Falko F Sniehotta Journal: Trials Date: 2015-09-22 Impact factor: 2.279