Reinforcing implementation intentions with imagery increases physical activity habit strength and behaviour

IF 3.5 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

British Journal of Health Psychology Pub Date : 2025-03-18 DOI:10.1111/bjhp.12795

Alison Divine, Sarah Astill

{"title":"Reinforcing implementation intentions with imagery increases physical activity habit strength and behaviour","authors":"Alison Divine, Sarah Astill","doi":"10.1111/bjhp.12795","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objectives</h3>\n \n <p>Habits may enhance the maintenance of physical activity. The aim of this study is to examine if reinforcing implementation intentions increases habit strength and thus physical activity.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Design</h3>\n \n <p>Participants (<i>N</i> = 186) were randomized into one of three intervention conditions (imagery vs. implementation intentions vs. combined; implementation intentions and imagery) and a control condition.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Participants were instructed to engage in a physical activity that they would like to start doing, or do more of, over a four-week period. Participants completed measures of physical activity, habit strength, and imagery use (imagery and combined conditions only) pre-intervention, weekly during the intervention, post-intervention, and a 12-week follow-up.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Habit strength increased at week three (<i>p</i> < .001) for those in the combined condition, which was maintained through post-intervention and increased at follow-up (<i>Ps > .05</i>). In the imagery condition, habit strength increased at post-intervention (<i>p</i> = .003) and was maintained at follow-up. Physical activity increased for the combined condition from week two (<i>p</i> < .001) of the intervention, continuing to increase at weeks three (<i>p</i> = .003) and four (<i>p</i> < .001).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>Imagery may be an effective intervention to support habit formation. Reinforcing implementation intentions with mental imagery may support habit formation for physical activity behaviour.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":48161,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Health Psychology","volume":"30 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjhp.12795","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"British Journal of Health Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjhp.12795","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Habits may enhance the maintenance of physical activity. The aim of this study is to examine if reinforcing implementation intentions increases habit strength and thus physical activity.

Design

Participants (N = 186) were randomized into one of three intervention conditions (imagery vs. implementation intentions vs. combined; implementation intentions and imagery) and a control condition.

Methods

Participants were instructed to engage in a physical activity that they would like to start doing, or do more of, over a four-week period. Participants completed measures of physical activity, habit strength, and imagery use (imagery and combined conditions only) pre-intervention, weekly during the intervention, post-intervention, and a 12-week follow-up.

Results

Habit strength increased at week three (p < .001) for those in the combined condition, which was maintained through post-intervention and increased at follow-up (Ps > .05). In the imagery condition, habit strength increased at post-intervention (p = .003) and was maintained at follow-up. Physical activity increased for the combined condition from week two (p < .001) of the intervention, continuing to increase at weeks three (p = .003) and four (p < .001).

Conclusions

Imagery may be an effective intervention to support habit formation. Reinforcing implementation intentions with mental imagery may support habit formation for physical activity behaviour.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

用图像强化执行意图可以增强身体活动习惯、力量和行为

习惯可以加强身体活动的维持。本研究的目的是检验加强执行意图是否会增加习惯强度，从而增加身体活动。设计参与者（N = 186）被随机分配到三种干预条件中的一种(想象vs.实施意图vs.联合干预；实施意图和意象)和控制条件。方法参与者被要求在四周的时间里从事一项他们想要开始做的体育活动，或者做更多的体育活动。参与者在干预前、干预期间每周、干预后和12周的随访中完成了身体活动、习惯强度和图像使用（仅限图像和组合条件）的测量。结果联合用药组的习惯强度在第3周增加（p < 0.001），干预后保持不变，随访时增加（p < 0.05）。在意象条件下，习惯强度在干预后增加（p = 0.003），并在随访中保持不变。从干预的第二周开始，综合情况下的体力活动增加（p < .001），在第三周（p = 0.003）和第四周（p < .001）继续增加。结论意象可能是支持习惯形成的有效干预手段。用心理意象强化实施意图可能支持身体活动行为的习惯形成。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

British Journal of Health Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

14.10

自引率

1.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The focus of the British Journal of Health Psychology is to publish original research on various aspects of psychology that are related to health, health-related behavior, and illness throughout a person's life. The journal specifically seeks articles that are based on health psychology theory or discuss theoretical matters within the field.