Effective Self-regulation Strategies in Health Behavior Change

Abstract

Symposium overview abstract: Self-regulation comprises several strategies to enhance health behavior change (e.g. planning, action control), and thus promote or maintain health and well-being. This symposium aims at presenting new empirical research on the effectiveness of self-regulation for behavior change in various contexts, utilizing diverse research methods. This provides a basis for a fruitful dialogue on the future directions of research in this field. Jennifer Inauen will first discuss the need for self-regulation based on results from a diary study on unhealthy snacking that investigated intention-behavior relations from an intraindividual perspective. Aleksandra Luszczynska will then provide insight into the effects of self-efficacy and planning interventions on adolescents’ physical activity and body fat. Next, Urte Scholz will present intensive longitudinal data on the reciprocal effects of mastery experience and self-efficacy, and their role in the success of an attempt to quit smoking. Corina Berli will then show results from a randomized controlled trial, highlighting potential benefits of a dyadic approach in self-regulation. In the end, Paschal Sheeran will critically reflect the session.