Planning health behaviour change: comparing the behavioural influence of two types of self-regulatory planning.
OBJECTIVE
Recent efforts in health psychology to bridge the gap between individuals' intentions and behaviour have centered on the influence of planning strategies. This study investigated the impact of two commonly used types of self-regulatory planning in the prediction of health promoting behaviour.


METHODS
This study employed a prospective longitudinal design. Three measurements were implemented in order to assess associations between various socio-cognitive determinants, planning, and health behaviour.


METHODS
Structural equation modelling (N = 572) was used to compare the value of preparatory planning, i.e. the planning of strategies and preparatory actions towards a goal behaviour, and implemental planning, i.e. the planning of when, where, and how to perform a goal behaviour, in the prediction of fruit consumption.


RESULTS
Both preparatory planning (ss = 0.21; p <.001) and implemental planning (ss = 0.13; p <.01) were significant predictors of fruit consumption, over and above the influence of motivational factors. Comparison of differences in explained variance (DeltaR(2)) indicated that the contribution of preparatory planning was larger than that of implemental planning (z = 2.19; p <.05). Implemental planning did not contribute to the prediction of fruit consumption over and above the influence of preparatory planning when tested simultaneously.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide a first indication that the planning of strategic preparatory actions may be more influential in predicting health behaviour than implemental planning, focusing on when, where, and how to enact goal-directed behaviour. Implications of the results and suggestions for future research are outlined.
van Osch
Liesbeth
L
Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Liesbeth.canOsch@gvo.unimaas.nl
Reubsaet
Astrid
A
Lechner
Lilian
L
Beenackers
Mariëlle
M
Candel
Math
M
Vries
Hein de
Hd
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001524:Behavioral Medicine / Q000379:methods; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires