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Cited by 2,569Behavioral Health and InterventionsHealth and Wellbeing ResearchMedia Influence and Health

Modeling health behavior change: how to predict and modify the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors.

Schwarzer, Ralf·2008·Applied Psychology
DOI 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2007.00325.x
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Abstract

Health‐compromising behaviors such as physical inactivity and poor dietary habits are difficult to change. Most social‐cognitive theories assume that an individual's intention to change is the best direct predictor of actual change. But people often do not behave in accordance with their intentions. This discrepancy between intention and behavior is due to several reasons. For example, unforeseen barriers could emerge, or people might give in to temptations. Therefore, intention needs to be supplemented by other, more proximal factors that might compromise or facilitate the translation of intentions into action. Some of these postintentional factors have been identified, such as perceived self‐efficacy and strategic planning. They help to bridge the intention–behavior gap. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) suggests a distinction between (a) preintentional motivation processes that lead to a behavioral intention, and (b) postintentional volition processes that lead to the actual health behavior. In this article, seven studies are reported that examine the role of volitional mediators in the initiation and adherence to five health behaviors: physical exercise, breast self‐examination, seat belt use, dietary behaviors, and dental flossing. The general aim is to examine the applicability of the HAPA and its universality by replicating it across different health behaviors, based on various measures, time spans, and samples from different countries. Les comportements nuisibles à la santé tels que le manque d’exercice physique et les mauvaises habitudes alimentaires sont difficiles à modifier. La plupart des théories socio‐cognitives admettent que le meilleur prédicteur d’un réel changement est l’intention que la personne a de changer. Mais la conduite est souvent en contradiction avec les intentions. La divergence entre intention et comportement est due à plusieurs raisons. Par exemple, des obstacles imprévus peuvent apparaître, ou encore les intéressés peuvent succomber à la tentation. L’intention doit donc être associée à d’autres facteurs plus immédiats susceptibles de compromettre ou de faciliter le passage de l’intention à l’action. Certains de ces facteurs ont été identifiés, à savoir la planification stratégique et la perception de l’efficacité personnelle. Ils aident à combler le fossé entre l’intention et le comportement. L’Approche des Processus d’Action en faveur de la Santé (HAPA) établit une distinction entre les processus motivationnels préalables à l’intention qui conduisent à une intention comportementale et les processus volontaires secondaires à l’intention qui débouchent sur un comportement effectivement favorable à la santé. On expose dans cet article sept recherches qui examinent le rôle médiateur de la volition dans l’adoption de et la persévérance dans cinq comportements utiles à la santé: l’exercice physique, l’inspection personnelle de ses seins, l’usage de la ceinture de sécurité, un bon régime alimentaire et l’utilisation du fil dentaire. Il s’agit de mettre à l’épreuve le caractère opérationnel de l’HAPA et son universalité en l’appliquant à différents comportements liés à la santéà partir de mesures et de périodes diversifiées sur des échantillons provenant de différents pays.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2007.00325.x

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  • People with high self-efficacy and a strong sense of personal control are more likely to perform behaviors they believe will achieve their goals.

    “research consistently shows that individuals who are high in self-efficacy and a sense of personal control are more likely to engage in the behaviors they believe will achieve desired goals.”

    From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Schwarzer, 2008

  • The Health Action Process Approach argues that behavior change occurs through 2 phases: motivational and volitional.

    “The Health Action Process Approach argues that behavior change (in this case pursuit of weight management goals) occurs through 2 phases: motivational and volitional [55].”

    From Understanding Usage of a Hybrid Website and Smartphone App for Weight Management: A Mixed-Methods Study (2014) · cites this paper as [55]

  • Mainstream health behavior change approaches have focused primarily on the content of cognitive and emotional variables that are thought to support long-term behavior change.

    “Mainstream health behavior change approaches have focused primarily on the content of cognitive and emotional variables that are thought to support long-term behavior change.”

    From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Health Behavior Change: A Contextually-Driven Approach (2018) · cites this paper as Schwarzer, 2008

  • Traditionally, health behavior change interventions target social cognitive and belief-based variables to increase individuals' intention and self-efficacy in the hopes of maintaining the health behavior change.

    “Traditionally, health behavior change interventions target the social cognitive and belief-based variables to increase individuals’ intention (i.e., a person’s motivation toward the target behavior in terms of direction and intensity) and self-efficacy (i.e., one’s confidence in being capable of performing a novel behavior) in the hopes of maintaining the health behavior change (Schwarzer, 2008).”

    From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Health Behavior Change: A Contextually-Driven Approach (2018) · cites this paper as Schwarzer, 2008

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Authors
Schwarzer, R.
Affiliations
Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
Corresponding author
Schwarzer, Ralf
ORCID
Schwarzer, Ralf
Venue
Applied Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-01
Volume
57
Issue
1
Pages
1-29
ISSN
  • 0269-994X (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-0597
DOI
10.1111/j.1464-0597.2007.00325.x
OpenAlex
W2099233982
Cited by
2,569
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 124 · 2025: 154 · 2024: 175 · 2023: 156 · 2022: 200 · 2021: 194 · 2020: 209 · 2019: 203 · 2018: 179 · 2017: 156 · 2016: 166 · 2015: 141 · 2014: 117 · 2013: 119 · 2012: 103
FWCI
73.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 29 d)
Locations
  • Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Wellbeing Research
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
Keywords
Health Action Process Approach, intention-behavior gap, self-efficacy, strategic planning, health behavior change, physical activity, breast self-examination, seat belt use, dietary behavior, dental flossing, health behavior adherence, social cognitive theory, physical inactivity, temptation, barriers to behavior change, motivational processes, volition

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