17 research outputs found
Tailoring Messages to Individual Differences in Monitoring- Blunting Styles to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake
Objective
To examine whether messages matched to individuals\u27 monitoring-blunting coping styles (MBCS) are more effective in increasing fruit and vegetable intake than mismatched messages. MBCS refers to the tendency to either attend to and amplify, or distract oneself from and minimize threatening information. Design/Setting
Randomly assigned messages were tailored to resonate with either monitors or blunters and delivered at baseline, 1 week, 2 months, and 3 months later. Surveys were conducted at baseline and 2 and 4 months later. Participants
531 callers to a cancer information hotline who did not meet the 5 A Day guideline. Intervention
A brief telephone-delivered message and 3 mailings of booklets and promotional items encouraging fruit and vegetable intake, tailored for either monitors or blunters. Main Outcome Measure
Fruit and vegetable intake 2 and 4 months post-baseline. Analysis
Hierarchical regression modeling. Results
Messages matched to MBCS were more effective than mismatched messages, particularly for the monitor message, in increasing intake at 2 months but not at 4 months. Conclusions and Implications
These minimal interventions influenced fruit and vegetable intake. MBCS may be a promising target for developing tailored messages aimed at increasing intake, although additional research is needed to verify the robustness of these findings
Casting Health Messages in Terms of Responsibility for Dietary Change: Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Objective
To compare the effectiveness of messages emphasizing the importance of either personal or social responsibility for dietary behavior change in increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Design/Setting
Randomly assigned individually or socially oriented messages were delivered at baseline, 1 week, and 2 and 3 months later. Telephone surveys were conducted at baseline and 1 and 4 months later. Participants
528 callers to a cancer information hotline who were not meeting the “5 A Day” dietary recommendation. Interventions
A brief telephone-delivered message and 3 mailings of pamphlets and promotional items encouraging fruit and vegetable intake that emphasized either personal or social responsibility. Main Outcome Measures
Fruit and vegetable intake 1 and 4 months postbaseline. Analysis
Chi-square, t tests, and analyses of variance and covariance. Results
Both types of messages increased intake substantially (P = .01). To some extent, the social responsibility message continued to motivate increased intake over time compared with the personal responsibility message. Conclusions and Implications
These minimal interventions had a substantial impact on fruit and vegetable intake. Health messages might be more effective over the longer term if they are designed to emphasize the importance of social responsibility, although further study is needed to confirm the robustness of these findings