When planning is needed: Implementation intentions and attainment of approach versus avoidance health goals.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested whether forming implementation intentions is an effective strategy for attaining health goals focused on trying to avoid a negative state.


METHODS
Participants chose to either eat more healthy snacks (i.e., an approach goal) or eat fewer unhealthy snacks (i.e., an avoidance goal) over two weeks and were randomly assigned to create an implementation intention to do this or not.


METHODS
The authors measured fat and calorie intake after one week and after two weeks.


RESULTS
After two weeks, the participants who ate most unhealthily were those who pursued an avoidance goal and did not form an implementation intention.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that forming implementation intentions for avoidance goal pursuit can help people attain important health goals.
Sullivan
Helen W
HW
Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Office of Preventive Oncology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7365, USA. sullivhe@mail.nih.gov
Rothman
Alexander J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006285:Health Planning; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D015431:Weight Loss