Background: This presentation reports the findings of a study to
identify links between behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and their theoretical mechanisms of
action. Methods: A systematic review identified >700 behaviour change interventions
reporting a theoretical basis and evidence of links between BCTs and theory. Interventions were
coded for (i) BCTs using the 93-item taxonomy, (ii) theoretical domains from the Theoretical
Domains Framework, and (iii) theoretical constructs proposed as mechanisms of action. The
frequency and strength of links between BCTs and domains or constructs were calculated using
non-parametric indices of association. Findings: Few papers linked all intervention components
to individual mechanisms of action, instead tending to link interventions more broadly to
overarching theoretical frameworks. Where mechanisms were mentioned, BCT-mechanism links were
not always clear or explicit. Discussion: The links identified between behaviour change
techniques and theory within the published literature facilitate our understanding of how
interventions are proposed to have their effect. The resulting database of interventions and
BCT-theory links will produce a resource for the behaviour change field of use for both
researchers and intervention designers.
