Strength of Messaging in Changing Attitudes in a Workplace Wellness Program

The potential benefits of workplace wellness programs are limited by low participation rates of employees, which could be due in part to ineffective persuasion by program providers. This study uses the Elaboration Likelihood Model, as a guiding theory in mixed methods research, to investigate feedba...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health promotion practice 2011-03, Vol.12 (2), p.303-311
Main Authors: Langille, Jessie-Lee D., Berry, Tanya R., Reade, Ian L., Witcher, Chad, Loitz, Christina C., Rodgers, Wendy M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitude change
Attitudes
Change agents
Elaboration
Exercise - psychology
Feedback
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health promotion
Health Promotion - organization & administration
Humans
Male
Occupational Health
Physical activity
Physical Fitness
Positive thought
Questionnaires
Wellness programs
Workplace - organization & administration
Workplace - psychology
Workplaces
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Summary:The potential benefits of workplace wellness programs are limited by low participation rates of employees, which could be due in part to ineffective persuasion by program providers. This study uses the Elaboration Likelihood Model, as a guiding theory in mixed methods research, to investigate feedback messages about physical activity delivered in a workplace wellness program. This study uses questionnaire and interview data from 32 employees to determine if personally relevant health messages are associated with either positive or negative responses to the messages and subsequent attitude change. General feedback is more appreciated by those who are less fit but are not effective in changing attitudes toward physical activity. Individually targeted messages result in a significant positive attitude change for participants responding positively to the messages. This suggests that individualized health promotion messages provide a stronger argument for individuals, thus increasing the likelihood of attitude change.
ISSN:1524-8399
1552-6372
DOI:10.1177/1524839909336650