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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 4/2016

01-08-2016 | Original Article

Mind the Gap? An Intensive Longitudinal Study of Between-Person and Within-Person Intention-Behavior Relations

Authors: Jennifer Inauen, Ph.D, Patrick E. Shrout, Ph.D, Niall Bolger, Ph.D, Gertraud Stadler, Ph.D, Urte Scholz, Ph.D

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 4/2016

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Abstract

Background

Despite their good intentions, people often do not eat healthily. This is known as the intention-behavior gap. Although the intention-behavior relationship is theorized as a within-person process, most evidence is based on between-person differences.

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the within-person intention-behavior association for unhealthy snack consumption.

Methods

Young adults (N = 45) participated in an intensive longitudinal study. They reported intentions and snack consumption five times daily for 7 days (n = 1068 observations analyzed).

Results

A within-person unit difference in intentions was associated with a halving of the number of unhealthy snacks consumed in the following 3 h (CI95 27–70 %). Between-person differences in average intentions did not predict unhealthy snack consumption.

Conclusions

Consistent with theory, the intention-behavior relation for healthy eating is best understood as a within-person process. Interventions to reduce unhealthy snacking should target times of day when intentions are weakest.
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Metadata
Title
Mind the Gap? An Intensive Longitudinal Study of Between-Person and Within-Person Intention-Behavior Relations
Authors
Jennifer Inauen, Ph.D
Patrick E. Shrout, Ph.D
Niall Bolger, Ph.D
Gertraud Stadler, Ph.D
Urte Scholz, Ph.D
Publication date
01-08-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9776-x

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