Mullan B, Olivier C, Thøgersen‐Ntoumani C. Mind the gap: Habit and self-determined motivation predict health behaviours in middle-aged and older adults.
Br J Health Psychol 2021;
26:1095-1113. [PMID:
33938096 PMCID:
PMC8519144 DOI:
10.1111/bjhp.12522]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption are two key health behaviours associated with the health and well-being of middle-aged and older adults. The present research investigated how habit and self-determined motivation interact with intention to prospectively predict physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption in middle-aged and older adults.
DESIGN
A prospective correlational design (two data collection points) was used.
METHODS
A convenience sample of 195 adults completed online questionnaires measuring intention, habit, and self-determined motivation. One week later, 177 participants (67.2% female), aged 52-87 years (M = 61.50, SD = 5.90), completed self-report measures of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption over the previous week.
RESULTS
Separate hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. For physical activity, the model explained 46% of the variance in behaviour, F(8, 168) = 17.88, p < .001 and a large effect size (ƒ2 = .85). Two-way interactions contributed an additional 3.70% of unique variance in physical activity, F(3, 165) = 4.07, p = .008, ƒ2 = .04. For fruit and vegetable consumption, the model explained 19.20% of the variance in behaviour, F(5, 171) = 8.13, p < .001 and a medium effect size (ƒ2 = .24). Two-way interactions did not significantly improve the model, F(3, 168) = 1.68, p = .174.
CONCLUSIONS
Habit and self-determined motivation were both important in narrowing the intention-behaviour gap for two key health behaviours, and combining these processes may better inform strategies to support people's intentions to improve these health behaviours.
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