Self-Regulation Prompts Can Increase Fruit Consumption: A One-Hour Randomized Controlled Online Trial

Objective: The purpose was to examine whether a one-hour intervention would help increase fruit consumption in motivated individuals and to study the role of self-regulatory mechanisms in the behavior change process, with a particular focus on dietary planning and action control. Methods: A randomized controlled trial compared a one-hour online intervention with controls in 791 participants. Dependent variables were fruit intake, planning to consume, and dietary action control. Results: Experimental condition by time interactions documented superior treatment effects for the self-regulation group, although all participants benefited from the study. To identify the contribution of the intervention ingredients, multiple mediation analyses were conducted that yielded mediator effects for dietary action control and planning. Conclusions: A very brief self-regulatory nutrition intervention was superior to a control condition. Dietary planning and action control seem to play a major role in the mechanisms that facilitate fruit intake.Keywords: action control, randomized controlled trial, nutrition, planning, self-regulatio

Nicht-lineare Zusammenhänge zwischen Intention und Verhalten: Eine Längsschnittstudie zu körperlicher Aktivität und sozial-kognitiven Prädiktoren [Non-linear relationship between intentions and behavior: A longitudinal study investigating physical activity and its social-cognitive predictors]

Many individuals are not as physically active as recommended or as intended. The aim of the current study was to compare the prevalence of physical activity with official recommendations as well as with individuals’ intentions. Moreover, mechanisms were explored further. Therefore, 492 men and women were assessed three times over a time span of approximately 3 and 6.5 weeks, respectively. As expected, behavioral prevalence was lower than recommendations and intentions. Previous behavior, intentions and self-efficacy predicted subsequent behavior. When analyzing non-linear relationships between intentions and behavior, a moderate level of intentions appeared to be best for subsequent performance: Good intentions have to be realistic in order to be translated into behavior. This is especially important for individuals being overweight or obese because particular recommendations exist for them performing physical activities

Positive experience, self-efficacy, and action control predict physical activity changes: A moderated mediation analysis

Objectives: Experiencing positive consequences of one's physical activity is supposed to facilitate further activity. This motivational outcome might be generated by an increase in perceived self‐efficacy. In addition to such a mediator effect, we examine whether this applies generally or only under conditions of volitional control. For this purpose, perceived action control was considered as a putative moderator. Design and Method: N = 193 students participated in a study with three measurement points in time. At baseline, positive experience with previous physical activity was measured as a predictor of physical activity. Two weeks later, self‐efficacy and action control variables were assessed as putative mediator and moderator, respectively. After another 2 weeks, physical activity was measured as the outcome. A moderated mediation model was specified with baseline physical activity and sex as covariates. Results: Self‐efficacy was found to mediate between initial positive experience and later physical activity, and this mediation was moderated by action control. Conclusions: Participants’ perceptions of positive experience were associated with their subsequent self‐efficacy fostering physical activity. However, persons with low levels of action control did not translate positive experience into physical activity via self‐efficacy