Improving attitudes towards breaks from sitting using affective and cognitive messages

This study tested for (mis)matching effects between affective and cognitive messages promoting breaks from sitting at home (H) and work (W) and attitude basis. Working adults (n=198) were randomised into an affective or cognitive message group and completed a pre- and post-message questionnaire assessing overall, affective, and cognitive attitudes. The main outcome was change in attitudes towards breaks (H/W). Participants with weak-to-strong affective attitudes and moderate-to-strong cognitive attitudes showed greater attitude change (H) after exposure to the matching message, but not participants with weaker attitude bases. No (mis)matching effect was found for attitude change (W). This study suggests that the need to match messages to attitude basis may depend on how strong the attitude basis is and the decision-making context.