Do implementation intentions help to turn good intentions into higher fruit intakes?
OBJECTIVE
The present study examined (1) whether respondents who were encouraged to make implementation intentions to eat more fruit increased their fruit intakes, as measured by three measures of fruit intake; (2) whether the effects of implementation intentions on fruit intake were dependent on positive goal intentions at baseline; and (3) the respondents' commitment to perform their implementation intentions.


METHODS
Dutch adults (n = 535) were randomly assigned to either receive implementation intention instructions or not. Two questionnaires were completed with a 1.5-week time interval. Respondents in the implementation intention condition were asked to form implementation intentions to eat an extra serving of fruit per day during one week.


RESULTS
Respondents in the implementation intention group reported a high frequency of eating an extra serving of fruit per day. The implementation intention effect on frequency of extra fruit did not depend on goal intention at baseline. The more committed respondents were to carrying out their implementation intention, the more likely they were to increase their fruit intake.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide some indications that implementation intentions could be a useful strategy to induce a short-term increase in fruit intake.
de Nooijer
Jascha
J
Department of Health Education and Promotion, Universiteit Masstricht, Masstricht, The Netherlands. j.denooijer@gvo.unimaas.nl
de Vet
Emely
E
Brug
Johannes
J
de Vries
Nanne K
NK
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006040:Goals; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015415:Biomarkers