This study explores among couples in which both members are obese how the use of mental contrasting along with implementation intentions influence intentions and behavior related to weight loss (eating healthy and exercise), actual weight loss, as well as potential reasons (i.e., mediators) why these changes may occur (e.g., social support, changes in beliefs about weight loss, confidence in being able to eat healthy and diet).
This study explores among couples in which both members are obese how the use of mental contrasting along with implementation intentions influence intentions and behaviors related to weight loss (eating healthy and exercise), actual weight loss, as well as potential reasons (i.e., mediators) why these changes may occur (e.g., social support, changes in beliefs about weight loss, confidence in being able to eat healthy and diet). In mental contrasting procedures, people first imagine a desired future (e.g., eating healthy) and then reflect on the current negative reality (e.g., I snack too much). This process makes people aware of changes needed in the present to obtain future positive outcomes, and thus aids in increasing goal commitment and goal pursuit. In implementation intention procedures, individuals form "if-then" statements about how they will enact their goals in their everyday lives. Implementation intentions are highly effective at helping individuals achieve health behavior change. Recent studies suggest that the combined use of mental contrasting and implementation intentions produce more behavior change than either technique alone (e.g., diet) In this study, investigators test whether these procedures vary in their effectiveness when couple members are instructed to focus on themselves versus the relationship, the latter intended to instill a communal coping mindset (i.e., that losing weight is an issue that needs to be addressed as a couple enacted through mutually cooperative behaviors).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Enrollment
140
Investigators will implement the manipulation of mental contrasting/implementation intentions, focusing on the individual. This will entail 3 steps that involve: 1) contrasting of positive future outcomes associated with present conditions that hinder achievement of positive future outcomes (i.e., barriers); 2) strategies to overcome barriers and hence facilitate weight loss; and 3) construction of implementation intentions.
Investigators will implement the manipulation of mental contrasting/implementation intentions, focusing on the couple. This will entail 3 steps that involve: 1) contrasting of positive future outcomes associated with present conditions that hinder achievement of positive future outcomes (i.e., barriers); 2) strategies to overcome barriers and hence facilitate weight loss; and 3) construction of implementation intentions.
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States
weight loss
Measure weight loss between baseline and one month visits
Time frame: one month
dietary changes
Look at dietary changes in self-report questionnaire.
Time frame: one month
number of minutes of physical activity
Measure minutes of physical activity through self-report questionnaire.
Time frame: one month
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