Targeted Messages Increase Dairy Consumption in Adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Issue 1 (28th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jung, Mary E.; Latimer-Cheung, Amy E.; Bourne, Jessica E.; Martin Ginis, Kathleen A.
• Is Part Of: Annals of behavioral medicine. Volume 51:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2016-10-28
• Subjects: Calcium consumption -- Behavior change -- Targeting -- Framing -- Efficacy-enhancing; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Sick -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Behavioral Medicine; 616.0019
• DOI: 10.1007/s12160-016-9828-2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-6612

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Dairy consumption amongst North Americans aged 30–50 has been declining. Targeted messages have been identified as a cost-efficient method through which to increase health-enhancing behavior, such as dairy intake. Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the utility of targeted, framed, efficacy-enhancing messages on calcium consumption from dairy in adults aged 30–50 in a randomized controlled trial. Method: Seven hundred and thirty-two individuals (463 women, 269 men; M age = 40.57 years) were randomly assigned to one of five message conditions: (1) gain-framed (GF), (2) loss-framed (LF), (3) self-regulatory efficacy-enhancing (SRE), (4) GF plus SRE (GF + SRE), or (5) LF plus SRE (LF + SRE). Conditions were separate for men and women. Each condition received an emailed message on four consecutive days. Calcium intake from dairy, self-regulatory efficacy, outcome expectations, and outcome value were measured at baseline, 1 and 4 weeks following the intervention. Results: Calcium intake from dairy significantly increased from baseline to week 1 post-intervention in all conditions ( p < .001). A significant message condition x time interaction ( p = .04) revealed that increases seen in the LF + SRE condition were maintained at week 4. All social cognitive constructs increased following the intervention ( p s < .01). Self-regulatory efficacy ( β = .28, p < .01) and outcome expectations ( β = .19, p < .01) were significant predictors of subsequent calcium intake (week 4) from dairy. Conclusion: Taken together, it appears as though ensuring message content is targeted to the specific population's beliefs and motives is of importance when developing behavioral change intervention material.