A smoker’s choice? Identifying the most autonomy-supportive message frame in an online computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of autonomy-supportive message framing on people's perceived autonomy-support while considering the individual need for autonomy as a moderator. Also, to test whether autonomy-supportive message frames - through increased perceived autonomy-support - lead to more self-determined motivation, and increased intention to quit smoking. DESIGN: = 626). MAIN OUTCOME: Intention to quit smoking (Theory of Planned Behaviour). MEASURES: Perceived autonomy-support (Virtual Climate Care Questionnaire), need for autonomy (Health Causality Orientations Scale), self-determined motivation (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire), attitudes, social influence, self-efficacy (I-Change Model). RESULTS: Structural equation modelling revealed no significant effect of autonomy-supportive-message frames on perceived autonomy-support or self-determined motivation, neither did the need for autonomy moderate these effects. Self-determined motivation had a positive, significant effect on intention to quit, mediated by attitudes, social influence, and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Although message frames did not affect perceived autonomy-support or self-determined motivation, higher self-determined motivation increased intention to quit via attitudes, social influence, and self-efficacy. Before drawing the conclusion that message framing has no effect, we recommend to replicate this study in a real-life setting with smokers more likely to read and process the message frames more attentively.
Source: Psychology and Health
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: KWF Kankerbestrijding
OpenAlex ID: W3083512694