Understanding health behaviours in context: A systematic review and meta-analysis of ecological momentary assessment studies of five key health behaviours
Year: 2022
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) involves repeated, real-time sampling of health behaviours in context. We present the state-of-knowledge in EMA research focused on five key health behaviours (physical activity and sedentary behaviour, dietary behaviour, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, sexual health), summarising theoretical (e.g., psychological and contextual predictors) and methodological aspects (e.g., study characteristics, EMA adherence). We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science until February 2021. We included studies focused on any of the aforementioned health behaviours in adult, non-clinical populations that assessed ≥1 psychological/contextual predictor and reported a predictor-behaviour association. A narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analyses of EMA adherence were conducted. We included 633 studies. The median study duration was 14 days. The most frequently assessed predictors were ‘negative feeling states’ (21%) and ‘motivation and goals’ (16.5%). The pooled percentage of EMA adherence was high at 81.4% (95% CI = 80.0%, 82.8%, k = 348) and did not differ by target behaviour but was somewhat higher in student (vs. general population) samples, when EMAs were delivered via mobile phones/smartphones (vs. handheld devices), and when event contingent (vs. fixed) sampling was used. This review showcases how the EMA method has been applied to improve understanding and prediction of health behaviours in context.
Source: Health Psychology Review
Institutions: University College London, Freie Universität Berlin, University of Aberdeen, Curtin University, University of East Anglia, Maastricht University, The Open University, Open University of the Netherlands, The University of Melbourne, Uniwersytet SWPS, National Health and Medical Research Council
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division, Cancer Research UK, University of East Anglia, European Commission, University of Aberdeen, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, National Health and Medical Research Council, European Regional Development Fund, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
OpenAlex ID: W4292093034