Citation

Glowacki EM, Bernhardt JM, McGlone MS. Health Informatics J. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of Texas at Austin, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1460458219889279

PMID

31808717

Abstract

This study used the regulatory focus/fit framework to compare the impact of text message wording on college students' drinking behaviors. In this 2 × 3 × 2 pre-test/post-test experiment, participants (N = 279) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: messages matching regulatory focus (congruent group), messages mismatching regulatory focus (incongruent group), and general health messages (control group). Messages were tailored by regulatory fit (prevention-oriented or promotion-oriented). Mixed factorial analyses of covariance revealed that prevention-oriented individuals who received text messages incongruent with their regulatory focus reported drinking alcohol for more hours and were more likely to consume a higher quantity of drinks than participants in the congruent or control group. These findings suggest that health messages mismatched to a receiver's regulatory focus might exacerbate unhealthy behavior.

Language: en

Keywords

high-risk drinking; mobile health; regulatory fit; regulatory focus; text messaging