Self-management Processes Used by Healthy Middle-aged Women to Change Behaviors

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand the processes women used to change osteoporosis prevention health behaviors. Twenty healthy, predominately white, middle-aged women engaged in an osteoporosis prevention program shared behavior change stories. Results indicated that behavior change was a highly personalized process influenced by a myriad of factors that are unique to the individual. Approaches to behavior change varied across individuals over time and were shaped by personal preferences, capacity, and past experiences. Rather than relying on a systematic approach to health behavior change, women selected and restructured aspects of research-based recommendations to match their personal needs and preferences. We identified four person-initiated behavior change processes: (a) picking and choosing, (b) doing it my way, (c) recognizing how I am doing, and (d) using prompts and feedback. Understanding the process people use to change behaviors might uniquely contribute to increasing the effectiveness of theory, research, intervention development, and clinical care.

Efficacy of Osteoporosis Prevention Smartphone App

“…There is wide-spread agreement about the importance of person-centered interventions (Institute of, 2001), and although the operationalization of such interventions varies, it is generally accepted that professional recommendations should be based on research-based protocols and that individuals need to actively participate in decision making, goal setting, and planning. Although the interventions developed for this study were research based and tailored to match the characteristics of individuals, we know participants altered the recommendations ( (Ryan, Brown, & Lynch, 2019). Instead of using protocols as advised, participants selectively chose to use some aspects of the intervention and often did not follow recommendations for amounts of foods or frequency, intensity, or duration of activity and exercises.…”

Using Mobile Phones in Health Behaviour Change - an Exploration of Perceptions among Adolescents in Sweden

“…The concept of success was understood by adolescents as achieving goals as well as continuously trying to improve and evolve as a person (Mac Intosh et al, 2020). The process of identifying and thoroughly testing new behaviours, which was described as an open approach, shows similarities of adult women's experiences of health behaviour change as exploring between available options to create changes that fit everyday life (Ryan et al, 2020). In this respect, participants in our study reported that self-acceptance and balance were needed to address health behaviour change as one of many commitments in life.…”