Using Theories of Behavior Change to Develop Interventions for Healthy Aging

Abstract Healthy aging requires people to adopt and maintain beneficial behaviors in all stages of the life span. Supporting behavior change, including via the motivation to make and maintain those changes, is therefore important for the promotion of healthy aging. The aim of this overview is to int...

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Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2021-09, Vol.76 (Supplement_2), p.S191-S205
Main Authors: Klusmann, Verena, Gow, Alan J, Robert, Philippe, Oettingen, Gabriele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Attitude to Health
Behavior Control - methods
Behavior Control - psychology
Culture
Health Behavior
Health Promotion - trends
Healthy Aging - physiology
Healthy Aging - psychology
Humans
Motivation
Psychological Theory
Psychology, Developmental
Psychosocial Intervention
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Summary:Abstract Healthy aging requires people to adopt and maintain beneficial behaviors in all stages of the life span. Supporting behavior change, including via the motivation to make and maintain those changes, is therefore important for the promotion of healthy aging. The aim of this overview is to introduce theoretical frameworks from the psychology of motivation that lend themselves to the development of effective interventions promoting behavior change conducive to healthy aging. We discuss theoretical frameworks referring to the determinants, properties, and functionality of goals aimed at behavior change, and consider the implications of the various theories for designing interventions to support healthy aging. We first consider theories that focus on beliefs and attitudes as determinants of goals, then we address theories that focus on the structure and content as important properties of goals, and, finally, we examine theories drawing on conscious and nonconscious processes underlying the functionality of these goals. We will present if–then planning and mental contrasting, as well as nudging and boosting, that is, novel strategies of behavior change that support the creation of scalable interventions for healthy aging across the life span. Against this background, new perspectives emerge for modern, state-of-the-art, and individually tailored interventions with the aim of enhancing older people’s healthy living.
ISSN:1079-5014
1758-5368
DOI:10.1093/geronb/gbab111