Self affirming via the web: a potential lifestyle behaviour intervention?

The potential for the internet to be utilised in the dissemination of health information is becoming increasingly apparent. This paper details the implementation of Self Affirmations into a web based programme, with the aim to assess the suitability of the web as a mode to deliver techniques that seek to motivate behaviour change. 58 undergraduate students participated in this pilot study. The results indicate that participants in the experimental condition (Self Affirmed) scored significantly higher on a measure to determine if they had Self Affirmed than the control group (p=0.01) and significantly higher on a measure of intent to change behaviour than the control group (p=0.002). This suggests that Self Affirmations can be successfully delivered online in order to impact on an individual's intention to change their behaviour. The results highlight the positive manner in which the internet can be used to promote healthier lifestyle behaviours.

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