Integrating Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions: Effects on College Student Drinking

Creating a psychosocial intervention combining growth mindset and implementation intentions (GMII) to reduce alcohol consumption: A mixed method approach

This work aimed at creating a psychosocial intervention based on growth mindset theory and implementation intention strategies, in order to reduce alcohol consumption among users in the general population, and the clinical population of individuals with alcohol use disorder. A mixed method approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative research methods among both populations. Four focus groups were first conducted to extract arguments in favor of a malleable view of alcohol consumption (study 1A), situations that trigger the desire to drink alcohol, as well as strategies used by people to counteract this need (study 1B). Data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis in line with the scientific literature on alcohol consumption. The results were used to create a questionnaire scoring the relevance of each argument, situation and strategy (study 2). The 20 best scored arguments, situations and strategies were selected to create the intervention. The created intervention consisted in a popularized scientific article describing alcohol consumption as malleable, including the selected arguments and followed by two internalization exercises. Then, a volitional help sheet included the selected situations and solutions was presented, allowing forming up to three plans. The discussion focused on the added value of the created material compared to pre-existing tools in the literature, and presents plans to test the intervention in a future study.

Effectiveness of Self-Affirmation Interventions in Educational Settings: A Meta-Analysis

School and university can be stressful contexts that can become an important source of identity threats when social prejudices or stereotypes come into play. Self-affirmation interventions are key strategies for mitigating the negative consequences of identity threat. This meta-analysis aims to provide an overview of the effectiveness of self-affirmation interventions in educational settings. A peer-reviewed article search was conducted in January 2023. A total of 144 experimental studies that tested the effect of self-affirmation interventions in educational contexts among high school and university students from different social and cultural backgrounds were considered. The average effect of self-affirmation interventions was of low magnitude (dIG+ = 0.41, z = 16.01, p < 0.00), with a 95% confidence interval whose values tended to lie between 0.36 and 0.45 (SE = 0.0253). In addition, moderators such as identity threat, participants' age, and intervention procedure were found. Through a meta-analysis of the impact of self-affirmation interventions in educational contexts, this study suggests that interventions are effective, resulting in a small mean effect size. Thus, self-affirmation interventions can be considered useful, brief, and inexpensive strategies to improve general well-being and performance in educational settings.

Longitudinal comparisons of self-affirmation approaches for sun protection

OBJECTIVES

Self-affirmation approaches for health behaviour demonstrate consistent small to medium effects on message acceptance, health intentions and behaviour change. There are several forms of self-affirmation (e.g., values affirmations, implementation intentions), but few empirical comparisons to guide selection in empirical work. Further, there has been little emphasis on the putative mechanisms of self-affirmation driving behaviour change. The current investigation compared a control and four self-affirmation approaches: values, social, implementation intention, and perspective taking.

METHODS

Participants were recruited through CloudResearch (N = 666) and reported baseline sun exposure and protection behaviour at Time 1. One week later (Time 2), returning participants (N = 535) were randomly assigned to condition, viewed a message conveying risks of sun exposure, and reported sun exposure and protection intentions for the next week. Follow-up one week later (Time 3; N = 449) assessed past week sun exposure (i.e., number of days spent outside during peak hours), sun protection behaviour (e.g., sunscreen use), future sun exposure and protection intentions and engagement with resources conveying further health information (i.e., viewing infographics, following links to websites with more information). The association of putative mechanisms with self-affirmation conditions and health outcomes was also examined.

RESULTS

Unexpectedly, there were few differences between self-affirmation conditions and the control on intentions, information seeking, or behaviour at follow-up. At follow-up, perspective circle participants reported fewer days spent outside, spent longer viewing infographics, and, along with social values participants, followed more weblinks seeking information than control participants. The putative mechanisms were unrelated to health outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The current investigation was a first step in comparing novel online self-affirmation approaches and had largely null findings. Results suggest that the perspective circle performed best at promoting information seeking and, to some extent, behaviour change. Suggestions for future directions are discussed.

The effect of forming implementation intentions on alcohol consumption: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ISSUES

Meta-analysis was used to estimate the effect of forming implementation intentions (i.e., if-then plans) on weekly alcohol consumption and heavy episodic drinking (HED). Sample type, mode of delivery, intervention format and timeframe were tested as moderator variables.

APPROACH

Cochrane, EThOS, Google Scholar, PsychArticles, PubMed and Web of Science were searched for relevant publications to 31 March 2021. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the effect size difference (d) between individuals forming versus not forming implementation intentions on weekly consumption and HED.

KEY FINDINGS

Sixteen studies were included in meta-analyses. The effect size difference for forming implementation intentions on weekly alcohol consumption was d+  = -0.14 confidence interval (CI) [-0.24; -0.03]. Moderator analyses highlighted stronger effects for: (i) community (d+  = -0.38, CI [-0.58; -0.18]) versus university (d+  = -0.04, CI [-0.13; 0.05]) samples; (ii) paper (d+  = -0.26, CI [-0.43; -0.09]) versus online (d+  = -0.04, CI [-0.14; 0.06]) mode of delivery; and (iii) volitional help sheet (d+  = -0.34, CI [-0.60; -0.07]) versus implementation intention format (d+  = -0.07, CI [-0.16; 0.02]). In addition, effects diminished over time (B = 0.02, SE = 0.01, CI [0.03; 0.01]). Forming implementation intentions had a null effect on HED, d+  = -0.01 CI [-0.10; 0.08].

IMPLICATIONS

Forming implementation intentions reduces weekly consumption but has no effect on HED.

CONCLUSION

This review identifies boundary conditions on the effectiveness of implementation intentions to reduce alcohol consumption. Future research should focus on increasing the effectiveness of online-delivered interventions and integrating implementation intention and motivational interventions.

Factores asociados a la intención de disminuir el consumo de alcohol en personas con consumo riesgoso en un hospital universitario de Bogotá, Colombia

Introducción. Las intervenciones para reducir el consumo riesgoso de alcohol son una prioridad en todos los escenarios clínicos, incluido el hospitalario. Objetivos. Describir las características sociodemográficas, familiares y clínicas en personas con consumo riesgoso de alcohol atendidas en un hospital universitario y evaluar la asociación entre estos factores y la intención de disminuir el consumo, medida según la etapa de cambio comportamental y denominada en este estudio como “intención de cambio”. Materiales y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en 176 pacientes entre 19 y 64 años con consumo riesgoso de alcohol (según puntaje AUDIT) atendidos o valorados entre abril de 2018 y marzo de 2020 en un hospital de cuarto nivel de Bogotá D.C., Colombia. Se realizó un análisis bivariado (Chi-cuadrado) y uno multivariado (regresión logística ordinal) para evaluar las asociaciones entre las variables independientes (características sociodemográficas, familiares, clínicas y relacionadas con el consumo de alcohol) y la intención de cambio. Se calcularon Odds Ratio ajustados (ORa) y se consideró un nivel de significancia de p<0.05 Resultados. La prevalencia de consumo riesgoso de alcohol fue de 4.88% (IC95%: 4.17-5.58) (176/3609). La mayoría de participantes eran hombres (82.95%) con más de 30 años (71.02%) y estaban en la etapa “preparación” de cambio comportamental (63.63%). En el análisis multivariado, ser mayor de 30 años se asoció con mayor intención de cambio (31-45 años: OR=3.68, IC95%:1.56-9.06; 46-64 años: OR=2.63; IC95%: 1.20–5.86) y, por el contrario, ser de un estrato socioeconómico alto se asoció con una menor intención (OR=0.06; IC95%: 0.01-0.50). Conclusiones. Se observó una mayor intención de disminuir el consumo de alcohol en los participantes mayores de 30 años, aquellos con mayor percepción de los beneficios de dicha disminución, aquellos con mayor percepción de autoeficacia, y en los pacientes con intentos previos de disminución; en contraposición, el estrato socioeconómico alto se asoció con menor intención de cambio.

In Lieu of Smoking: Are Smokers More Likely to Enact Certain Types of Implementation Intention Plans During a JIT Smoking Cessation?

BACKGROUND

To identify actionable and effective implementation intention (II) plans, we examined whether (a) IIs suggesting food or nicotine-based substitution strategies to help quit smoking cigarettes would be more likely to be enacted in real time, (b) IIs reminding participants to cognitively motivate themselves or engage in solitary activity would be more likely to be enacted than those suggesting seeking social support, and (c) II plan enactment based on the above strategies would be associated with reporting momentary lapse avoidance.

METHOD

A sample of 57 Asian American young adult (18-25 years) smokers participated in a 4-week, mobile-based smoking cessation intervention, implemented in a Just-In-Time framework. User-specified IIs were categorized into nature of activity (cognitively motivate themselves, engage in solitary activity, seek social support) and type of substitution strategy (food, nicotine, no substitution). Outcome variable was momentary enactment of the given II. Generalized mixed linear models were used for analyses.

RESULTS

IIs reminding participants to cognitively motivate themselves and/or engage in solitary activities were more likely to be enacted than IIs recommending seeking social support. IIs recommending nicotine-based substitution were more likely to be enacted than IIs that did not specify any substitution. IIs suggesting food-based substitution, however, were less likely to be enacted than those not suggesting a specific substitution. II plan enactment based on the above strategies was significantly associated with avoiding momentary lapses compared to when momentary lapses occurred.

CONCLUSION

Specifying II recommendations found to be helpful with avoiding lapses in a smoking cessation context, can increase chances of II enactment, and improve overall health intervention outcomes.

Effectiveness of the use of implementation intentions on reduction of substance use: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Background: Substance use, such as alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking and illicit drug use, have been associated with severe health conditions and an annual estimated 12 % of all deaths worldwide. Implementation intentions are self-regulatory processes which help achieve health-related behaviour change.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effectiveness of forming implementation intentions to reduce substance use.

DESIGN

Data sources: PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioural Science Collection, clinicaltrials.gov, UK Clinical Trials Gateway, Reference lists.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

RCT of substance users forming implementation intentions to reduce consumption (active or passive control condition present).

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

the SIGN checklist for RCT quality was used for quality appraisal, data was extracted by two reviewers.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall effect size for alcohol use was g = 0.31 (95 % CI: 0.21, 0.42), p < .001; for tobacco smoking g = 0.31 (CI: 0.12, 0.5), p = .002; no studies were retrieved for the use of implementation intentions on illicit drug use.

CONCLUSION

This review suggests that implementation intention interventions are effective in reducing some forms of substance use (alcohol use and tobacco smoking), albeit revealing small effect sizes, among the general population and students in secondary and higher education. Review registration number: CRD42018116170.

Greater benefit of self-affirmation for prevention-focused individuals prior to threatening health messages

OBJECTIVE

Individuals are often defensive toward health messages that suggest they are putting their health at risk because such messages threaten their self-competence and integrity. Although self-affirmation can facilitate prevention behaviors in response to health messages, effects are variable. We examined whether disease prevention focus might strengthen self-affirmation's effects in response to disease prevention messages, given that prevention-focused individuals are likeliest to be persuaded by those messages after self-affirmation attenuates defensiveness.

DESIGN

In Study 1, participants were self-affirmed before a message about sexually transmitted infections. In Studies 2 and 3, individuals were self-affirmed prior to a message about alcohol and cancer risk.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Studies assessed intentions to use condoms, intentions to reduce alcohol, and willingness to drink alcohol in specific scenarios.

RESULTS

In Study 1, self-affirmation facilitated condom use intentions among those higher in prevention focus. In Studies 2 and 3, self-affirmation facilitated lower willingness to consume alcohol among those high in prevention focus. A meta-analysis across the three studies indicated that self-affirmation improved intentions and willingness under high, but not low, prevention focus (d = 0.20, p = .003).

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that health prevention-focus can strengthen self-affirmation's effects, thereby improving responsiveness to health communications about behaviors that increase disease risk.

Reconceptualizing Self-Affirmation With the Trigger and Channel Framework: Lessons From the Health Domain

Self-affirmation—a theory-based technique to affirm the adaptive adequacy of the self—can promote positive behavior change and adaptive outcomes, although effects are variable. We extend a novel framework (Trigger and Channel), proposing three conditions that facilitate self-affirmation-induced behavior change: (a) presence of psychological threat, (b) presence of resources to foster change, and (c) timeliness of the self-affirmation with respect to threat and resources. Using health behavior as a focus, we present meta-analytic evidence demonstrating that when these conditions are met, self-affirmation acts as a psychological trigger into a positive channel of resources that facilitate behavior change. The presence of a timely threat and the availability of timely resources independently predicted larger self-affirmation effects on behavior change, and the two interacted synergistically to predict still larger effects. The results illustrate the conditionality of self-affirmation effects and offer guidelines for when, where, and for whom self-affirmation will be most effective.