Pempa Lhakhang1, Cristina Godinho2, Nina Knoll3, Ralf Schwarzer4. 1. Health Psychology Department, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: pempa.lhakhang@fu-berlin.de. 2. Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Cis-IUL, Lisboa, Portugal. 3. Health Psychology Department, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany. 4. Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, 25A Barker Road, Strathfield, NSW 2135, Australia; Department of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, ul. Ostrowskiego 30b, 53-238 Wroclaw, Poland; Health Psychology Department, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of two subsequent intervention components (motivational and self-regulatory components), placed in different order, to promote fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. METHODS: After baseline assessment, university students (N=205, aged 18-26 years) were allocated to two groups. One group received a motivational intervention (outcome expectancies, risk perception, and task self-efficacy) followed by a self-regulatory intervention (planning and dietary self-efficacy) after 17 days. The second group received the same intervention conditions in the opposite order. Follow-up assessments were done after another 17 days. RESULTS: Both intervention sequences yielded gains in terms of FV intake and self-efficacy. However, this gain was only due to the self-regulatory component whereas the motivational component did not contribute to the changes. Moreover, changes in intention and self-efficacy mediated between intervention sequence and follow-up behavior, suggesting that improving these proximal predictors of FV intake was responsible for the behavioral gains. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the superiority of a self-regulatory intervention over a motivational intervention when it comes to dietary changes in this sample of young adults. Moreover, changes in dietary self-efficacy may drive nutritional changes.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of two subsequent intervention components (motivational and self-regulatory components), placed in different order, to promote fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. METHODS: After baseline assessment, university students (N=205, aged 18-26 years) were allocated to two groups. One group received a motivational intervention (outcome expectancies, risk perception, and task self-efficacy) followed by a self-regulatory intervention (planning and dietary self-efficacy) after 17 days. The second group received the same intervention conditions in the opposite order. Follow-up assessments were done after another 17 days. RESULTS: Both intervention sequences yielded gains in terms of FV intake and self-efficacy. However, this gain was only due to the self-regulatory component whereas the motivational component did not contribute to the changes. Moreover, changes in intention and self-efficacy mediated between intervention sequence and follow-up behavior, suggesting that improving these proximal predictors of FV intake was responsible for the behavioral gains. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the superiority of a self-regulatory intervention over a motivational intervention when it comes to dietary changes in this sample of young adults. Moreover, changes in dietary self-efficacy may drive nutritional changes.
Authors: Lena Violetta Krämer; Claudia Mueller-Weinitschke; Tina Zeiss; Harald Baumeister; David Daniel Ebert; Jürgen Bengel Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-01-24 Impact factor: 2.692