Goal prioritization and behavior change: Evaluation of an intervention for multiple health behaviors.

Abstract

Objectives: Goal prioritization is a promising strategy for promoting health behavior change. The present research (a) tested whether goal prioritization engenders change in multiple health behaviors, (b) compared the effectiveness of prioritizing one versus two health behavior goals, and (c) assessed whether prioritization compromises the performance of nonprioritized behaviors. Method: Participants (N = 1,802) were randomly allocated to one of two intervention conditions (prioritize one vs. two behaviors) or two no-prioritization, control conditions. Participants in the intervention conditions self-selected the behavior(s) to prioritize from a given set. Goal priority and behavioral performance were assessed 8 weeks later. Results: The prioritization interventions were successful in promoting goal priority and led to significantly greater behavior change compared to both control conditions. Prioritizing two health behavior goals led to increased behavioral performance compared to prioritizing a single goal. Goal prioritization did not lead to a decline in rates of performance of nonprioritized behaviors. Conclusions: The present findings offer new evidence that goal prioritization is effective in promoting health behavior change. Prioritizing health goals engenders behavior change for both one and two focal behaviors and does so without adversely affecting the performance of nonprioritized health behaviors. Further tests of interventions to promote the priority of health goals are warranted.

Understanding the intention-behavior gap: The role of intention strength

“… Conner et al (2016a) showed that goal priority moderated the intention-behavior relationship for physical activity (Study 1) and a range of health behaviors (Study 4) and that a manipulation of goal priority increased the intention-physical activity relationship when physical activity was self-reported (Study 2) or objectively measured (Study 3). More recently, Conner et al (2022c) showed that prioritizing one or two behaviors (including physical activity) that individuals intended to engage in resulted in greater performance of the prioritized behaviors with no decrement to the non-prioritized behaviors.…”

Predicting Future Recidivism From Changes in School Grades and Moral Agency

“…Whether the effect is unidirectional, as it was in the Walters (2023) investigation, or bidirectional, as it was in the current study, it should be understood that relatively small events and experiences can lead to significant changes in behavior, such as reduced recidivism and desistance. It is possible that these changes in thought and action bring about changes in routine activities (Osgood et al, 1996), value-based decision-making (Berkman, 2018), and goal prioritization (Conner et al, 2022) that then became self-reinforcing over time (Skinner, 1974), but again, these are assumptions that require testing and verification.…”

Self-efficacy resources program for behavior changes

“…With the help of peer coaches, health professionals can improve long-term adherence with healthy behaviors 19. Setting goals is essential to promote healthy behavior 20. Working on tasks can be a source of self-efficacy when there's an objective evaluation of whether healthy behaviors are carried out correctly or not.…”

“…19 Setting goals is essential to promote healthy behavior. 20 Working on tasks can be a source of self-efficacy when there's an objective evaluation of whether healthy behaviors are carried out correctly or not. Evaluation of the behavior can increase selfconfidence because feedback promotes an understanding of how to improve and increase healthy behavior.…”