Tailored texts: An application of regulatory fit to text messages designed to reduce high-risk drinking. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Glowacki, Elizabeth M; Bernhardt, Jay M; McGlone, Matthew S
• Is Part Of: Health informatics journal. Volume 26:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 1742
• Page End: 1763
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: high-risk drinking -- mobile health -- regulatory fit -- regulatory focus -- text messaging; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1177/1460458219889279
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1460-4582

Abstract

This study used the regulatory focus/fit framework to compare the impact of text message wording on college students' drinking behaviors. In this 2 × 3 × 2 pre-test/post-test experiment, participants ( N = 279) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: messages matching regulatory focus (congruent group), messages mismatching regulatory focus (incongruent group), and general health messages (control group). Messages were tailored by regulatory fit (prevention-oriented or promotion-oriented). Mixed factorial analyses of covariance revealed that prevention-oriented individuals who received text messages incongruent with their regulatory focus reported drinking alcohol for more hours and were more likely to consume a higher quantity of drinks than participants in the congruent or control group. These findings suggest that health messages mismatched to a receiver's regulatory focus might exacerbate unhealthy behavior.