The DOI matches its Crossref record; 44 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Does theory influence the effectiveness of health behavior interventions? Meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To systematically investigate the extent and type of theory use in physical activity and dietary interventions, as well as associations between extent and type of theory use with intervention effectiveness. METHODS: An in-depth analysis of studies included in two systematic reviews of physical activity and healthy eating interventions (k = 190). Extent and type of theory use was assessed using the Theory Coding Scheme (TCS) and intervention effectiveness was calculated using Hedges's g. Metaregressions assessed the relationships between these measures. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of interventions reported a theory base. Of these, 90% did not report links between all of their behavior change techniques (BCTs) with specific theoretical constructs and 91% did not report links between all the specified constructs with BCTs. The associations between a composite score or specific items on the TCS and intervention effectiveness were inconsistent. Interventions based on Social Cognitive Theory or the Transtheoretical Model were similarly effective and no more effective than interventions not reporting a theory base. CONCLUSIONS: The coding of theory in these studies suggested that theory was not often used extensively in the development of interventions. Moreover, the relationships between type of theory used and the extent of theory use with effectiveness were generally weak. The findings suggest that attempts to apply the two theories commonly used in this review more extensively are unlikely to increase intervention effectiveness.
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In the citing paper
“While psychosocial theories, such as SCT, SLT, and TPB were most commonly used to inform the interventions, these interventions did not incorporate behaviour change taxonomy technique (BCTT) [64, 65].”
From School-based healthy eating interventions for adolescents aged 10–19 years: an umbrella review (2024) · cites this paper as [65]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Literature suggests using BCTT with behaviour change theories and frameworks, such as goal setting theory, TTM, TRA, and Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) framework, for more effective and sustainable behaviour change [64–67].”
From School-based healthy eating interventions for adolescents aged 10–19 years: an umbrella review (2024) · cites this paper as [65]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“BCTTv1 has also been used by systematic reviewers to identify BCTs within intervention papers, in order to facilitate intervention comparison and evaluate technique efficacy (e.g. [42–47]).”
In the citing paper
“Systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses have also examined the association between BCTs and theory [45], explored which BCTs are most effective in changing particular mechanisms of action, such as self-efficacy [76–79], and measured the overall effect of mechanisms of action, e.g. a change in intention on behaviour [80].”
In the citing paper
“However, a recent meta-analysis found that BCIs are often not designed on a clear theoretical foundation; for example, only 22.5% of 235 implementation studies explicitly used theories of behaviour change 58,59 and the majority of those doing so gave no clear explanation for why the selected theories had been used.”
In the citing paper
“For example, a meta-analysis of 190 interventions to increase physical activity and healthy eating interventions found that 56% of studies claimed the interventions were based on a theory.58”
In the citing paper
“However, 90% of these did not report links between all of the BCTs and specific theoretical constructs.58”
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Citations
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Flagged first, then by citations
4 of the 48 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 6
- Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
A systematic review of the use of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
Kirk, M. A., Kelley, C., Yankey, N., Birken, S. A., Abadie, B., & Damschroder, L. (2015) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/s13012-016-0437-z · Cited by 1,496
Kwasnicka, D., Dombrowski, S. U., White, M., & Sniehotta, F. (2016) · Health Psychology Review · doi:10.1080/17437199.2016.1151372 · Cited by 1,476
Self-citationDavis, R., Campbell, R., Hildon, Z., Hobbs, L., & Michie, S. (2015) · Health Psychology Review · doi:10.1080/17437199.2014.941722 · Cited by 1,411
Self-citationSamdal, G. B., Eide, G. E., Barth, T., Williams, G., & Meland, E. (2017) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-017-0494-y · Cited by 788
Physical activity: Health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions
Rhodes, R. E., Janssen, I., Bredin, S. S. D., Warburton, D. E. R., & Bauman, A. E. (2017) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2017.1325486 · Cited by 904
Metadata
- Authors
- Prestwich, A., Sniehotta, F. F., Whittington, C., Dombrowski, S. U., Rogers, L., & Michie, S.
- Affiliations
- Newcastle University (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- Venue
- Health Psychology
- Published
- 2014-05
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 465-474
- ISSN
- 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-7810
- OpenAlex
- W1987684330
- Cited by
- 562
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 98 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 23
- FWCI
- 48.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- Stirling Online Research Repository (University of Stirling) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Communication › Media Influence and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Keywords
- health behavior interventions, theory application, intervention effectiveness, behaviour change techniques, social cognitive theory, transtheoretical model, physical activity interventions, dietary intervention, healthy eating interventions, theory-based intervention development
- MeSH terms
- Diet, Health Promotion, Humans, Motor Activity, Psychological Theory, Program Evaluation, Health Behavior
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