Assessment of the Predictors and Moderators of Behavior Change (ABC)

Boston University Charles River Campus

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exercise

Treatments: Other: Action Planning; Other: Cognitive Dissonance; Other: Reflection (Control Condition)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03139643

3555E

Details and patient eligibility

About

The current study aims to investigate two potential interventions (i.e., cognitive dissonance and action planning) for inducing behavior change for behaviors important to college students-studying and exercise. In addition, this study will investigate factors that may impact behavior change, such as psychological and neuropsychological variables, to better understand how to bridge the intention-behavior gap.

Enrollment: 230 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Boston University Psychology 101 students at least 18 years of age
• Able to provide informed consent for the study
• Sufficient command of the English language
• Have experience using a computer and mouse

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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230 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Cognitive Dissonance

Experimental group

Description:

After reading the materials about their chosen behavior, participants will be asked write an essay about their behavior of choice (studying/exercising). For this essay they will be asked to imagine that they have reached their ideal level of academic achievement/fitness, describe what this would look and feel like, and reflect on how this would impact how they view themselves, their relationships, and their day to day life.

Treatment:

Other: Cognitive Dissonance

Action Planning

Experimental group

Description:

After reading the materials about their chosen behavior, participants will be asked to make a detailed plan for the following two weeks based on the following items taken from a study by Sniehotta and colleagues (2004): 1) when to complete studying/exercise, 2) where to complete studying/exercise, 3) how to complete studying/exercise (e.g., what types of exercise- cardio, class, etc. or what types of studying activities- reading, taking notes, creating outlines, etc.), and 4) how often to complete studying/exercise. Participants will be given a calendar as an aid to planning their behavior.

Treatment:

Other: Action Planning

Reflection (Control Condition)

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

After reading the materials about their chosen behavior, participants will be asked to summarize and reflect on what they read.

Treatment:

Other: Reflection (Control Condition)