Well‐being self‐efficacy and complier average causal effect estimation: A substantive‐methodological synergy☆

Objectives: The purpose of this manuscript was to provide a substantive (i.e., well‐being self‐efficacy) – methodological (i.e., complier average causal effect estimation) synergy of potential importance to future research in the psychology of sport and exercise with secondary data analyses from the Fun For Wellness intervention. Fun For Wellness is a new on‐line intervention designed to promote growth in well‐being. Well‐being self‐efficacy is a proposed mechanism by which the effect of Fun For Wellness on well‐being may be transmitted. Complier average causal effect estimation is a methodology that estimates the effect of complying with an intervention. Design: The study design was a prospective, double‐blind, parallel group randomized controlled trial (RCT) detailed in Myers, Prilleltensky, et al. (2016). Data were collected at baseline, 30 days‐ and 60 days‐post baseline. A total of 479 adult employees at a major university in the southeast of the United States of America were enrolled. Method: A two‐class linear regression model with complier average causal effect estimation was fitted to well‐being self‐efficacy scores at 30‐ and 60‐days. Results: The adjusted mean difference in well‐being self‐efficacy scores for participants who complied with the intervention, as compared to potential compliers in the Usual Care group, was equal to 0.21, p = 0.061, Cohen's d = 0.36 at 30‐days and 0.28, p = 0.050, Cohen's d = 0.49 at 60‐days. Conclusion: Complier average causal effect estimation may be a useful approach for RCTs in sport and exercise psychology when at least some of the participants do not comply with the intervention. HighlightsThe substantive focus of this manuscript was well‐being self‐efficacy.The methodological focus of this manuscript was complier average causal effect estimation.Fun For Wellness is an online intervention designed to promote growth in well‐being.