Thomas Webb University of Sheffield, UK

1. Using the Internet to Help People to Act on Intentions: Monitoring, Planning and Environmental Restructuring Thomas Webb University of Sheffield, UK SYNERGY 2008: How can psychological theory best be used in the development of internet-based interventions?

2. Intention Behaviour Motivational interventions Volitional interventions Health Behaviour Change • Target motivation or volition? • Or both? • Milne, S., Orbell, S., & Sheeran, P. (2002). Combining motivational and volitional interventions to promote exercise participation. British Journal of Health Psychology, 7, 163-184.

3. Monitoring interventions Planning interventions Environmental restructuring Control Theory(Carver & Scheier, 1982) Reference value Comparator Input function (perception) Output function (behaviour) Impact on environment Disturbance

4. Monitoring • Self-monitoring of behaviour • The person is asked to keep a record of specified behavior/s • (Abraham & Michie, in press) • Self-monitoring of behavioural outcome • The person is asked to keep a record of specified measures expected to be influenced by the behaviour change • (Abraham & Michie, revised taxonomy)

5. Cussler et al. (2008) • N = 135 women randomly allocated to either internet or self-directed groups • Internet group used a website to gain information and complete logs concerning their weight, diet, and exercise progress over a 12 month period • Self-directed group had no contact

6. Cussler et al. (2008)

7. Action Planning • Involves detailed planning of what the person will do including a very specific definition of the behaviour, namely both (a) how and at least one of (b) when and (c) where to act • (Abraham & Michie, revised taxonomy) • Implementation intentions • If-then contingent structure linking opportunity with response • If opportunity Y arises, then I will perform goal-directed behaviour Z! • Effective across a wide-variety of domains • (Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006)

8. Sniehotta et al (2007) • N = 239 participants attended a lecture on oral self-care, completed a baseline questionnaire, received a packet of dental floss, information, and a flossing guide • E-mailed link to an online questionnaire that – for one-half of the participants – included a planning intervention • I will use dental floss at ____ (WHEN) at or in ____ (WHERE) before/after ____(activity, e.g., washing my face)

9. Sniehotta et al (2007)

10. Environmental Restructuring • The person is prompted to alter the environment in ways so that it is more supportive of the target behaviour (e.g. altering cues or reinforcers) • (Abraham & Michie, revised taxonomy)

11. Kosma, Cardinal, & McCubbin (2005) • N = 151 physically inactive people with a registered disability were randomly allocated to intervention or control conditions • Intervention group received 4-week web-based physical activity intervention with a different lesson plan for each week • Among other materials, participants received “reminders about the positive societal changes with regards to accessible facilities…” • Control group received a ‘thought of the week’ and encouraging messages to maintain interest in the study

12. Kosma, Cardinal, & McCubbin (2005)

13. For Discussion… • Do we gain anything from using Control Theory as a framework for behaviour change? • Which behaviour change techniques work well in combination? • Can Control Theory help to inform this? • Which behaviour change techniques work well in isolation? • Should people be allowed to make their own plans or do researchers ‘know best’? • Should environmental restructuring be an individual or a societal responsibility?

14. References Abraham, C. S., & Michie, S. (in press). A taxonomy of behavior change techniques used in interventions. Health Psychology. Abraham, C. S., & Michie, S. (personal communication). A revised taxonomy of behavior change techniques used in interventions. Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1982). Control theory: A useful conceptual framework for personality, social, clinical and health psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 92, 111-135. Cussler, E. C., Teixeira, P. J., Going, S. B., Houtkooper, L. B., Metcalfe, L. L., Blew, R. M., Ricketts, J. R., Lohman, J., Stanford, V. A., & Lohman, T. G. (2008). Maintenance of weight loss in overweight middle-aged women through the internet. Obesity, 16, 1052-1060. Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69-120. Kosma, M., Cardinal, B. J., & McCubbin, J. A. (2005). A pilot study of a web-based physical activity motivational program for adults with physical disabilities. Disability Rehabilitation, 27, 1435-1442 Sniehotta, F. F., Soares, V. A., & Dombrowski, S. U. (2007). Randomized controlled trial of a one-minute intervention changing oral self-care behavior. Journal of Clinical Dentistry, 86, 641-645.