A task about yourself before health messages gave small gains in intentions and actions

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   16 studies, with 31 to 185 people in each. Most used university students, and most were run in Europe or the UK. Average ages were about 18 to 38, and every study was at least half women.

2. 02

   What they did

   Before reading a threatening health message, people did a short task about something they valued in themselves. The other groups read the message without it.

3. 03

   What happened

   Intentions rose a little, and health behaviour did too. Some studies with large positive results seem to be missing, so the real gain in behaviour may have been bigger. The size of the change in intentions did not predict the size of the change in behaviour.

What the review found

1. HelpedMotivation

   Across 14 studies, people who did the task intended to change a little more than those who did not.

   • Action: Clarify what matters to youtested
   • Action: Build on what already workstested

   Pooled analysis of 14 studies · vs people who did not do the task · they rated themselves

2. HelpedGoals

   Across 12 studies, people who did the task changed their health behaviour a little more than those who did not.

   • Action: Clarify what matters to youtested
   • Action: Build on what already workstested

   Pooled analysis of 12 studies · vs people who did not do the task · ⚠ signs that small negative studies went unpublished

Source