TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating message-framing effects in the context of a tailored intervention promoting physical activity
AU - van 't Riet, J.
AU - Ruiter, R.A.C.
AU - Werrij, M.Q.
AU - de Vries, H.
PY - 2010/1/1
Y1 - 2010/1/1
N2 - Health-promoting messages can be framed in terms of the gains associated with healthy behavior or the losses associated with unhealthy behavior. It has been argued that gain-framed messages promoting physical activity (PA) are more effective than loss-framed messages, but empirical findings are inconsistent. Also, no previous studies investigated the effects of gain- and loss-framed messages in the context of a computer-tailored PA intervention. In this study, we provided participants with computer-generated tailored feedback concerning their PA levels. In total, 787 participants entered in the study, of whom 299 completed all measures at a 3-month follow-up. We investigated whether gain- and loss-framed messages promoting PA affected information acceptance, attitude, intention and behavior differently. The results showed that gain-framed messages resulted in stronger intentions to be physically active than loss-framed messages. This did not result in a significant increase in actual PA, however, as measured by a 3-month follow-up assessment. For information acceptance and attitude, a non-significant advantage of gain-framed messages was found. All effects had small effect sizes. Thus, whereas gain-framed information might be more persuasive than loss-framed information when it comes to promoting PA, the differences between gain- and loss-framed messages are likely to be small. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
AB - Health-promoting messages can be framed in terms of the gains associated with healthy behavior or the losses associated with unhealthy behavior. It has been argued that gain-framed messages promoting physical activity (PA) are more effective than loss-framed messages, but empirical findings are inconsistent. Also, no previous studies investigated the effects of gain- and loss-framed messages in the context of a computer-tailored PA intervention. In this study, we provided participants with computer-generated tailored feedback concerning their PA levels. In total, 787 participants entered in the study, of whom 299 completed all measures at a 3-month follow-up. We investigated whether gain- and loss-framed messages promoting PA affected information acceptance, attitude, intention and behavior differently. The results showed that gain-framed messages resulted in stronger intentions to be physically active than loss-framed messages. This did not result in a significant increase in actual PA, however, as measured by a 3-month follow-up assessment. For information acceptance and attitude, a non-significant advantage of gain-framed messages was found. All effects had small effect sizes. Thus, whereas gain-framed information might be more persuasive than loss-framed information when it comes to promoting PA, the differences between gain- and loss-framed messages are likely to be small. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
U2 - 10.1093/her/cyp061
DO - 10.1093/her/cyp061
M3 - Article
C2 - 19841041
SN - 0268-1153
VL - 25
SP - 343
EP - 354
JO - Health Education Research
JF - Health Education Research
IS - 2
ER -