Evaluating the Let’s Move It intervention programme theory for adolescents’ physical activity: Theorised psychosocial mechanisms of behavioural change

Palsola, Minttu, Araújo-Soares, Vera, Hardeman, Wendy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6498-9407, Haukkala, Ari, Toivo, Matti, Heino, Juhani, Sniehotta, Falko, Sund, Reijo, Vasankari, Tommi and Hankonen, Nelli (2025) Evaluating the Let’s Move It intervention programme theory for adolescents’ physical activity: Theorised psychosocial mechanisms of behavioural change. British Journal of Health Psychology, 30 (1). ISSN 1359-107X

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Abstract

Objectives: Behaviour change theories have extensively been used in health behaviour change interventions and their programme theories. However, they are rarely evaluated in randomized field studies. The Let's Move It intervention targeted various psychosocial constructs to increase adolescents' physical activity. A theory-based process evaluation aiming to illuminate the trial findings as well as to test the programme theory used is conducted. Specifically, we investigate whether the intervention influenced the theorized determinants of change immediately post-intervention and after 1 year, and whether these determinants were associated with changes in physical activity. Design: A cluster-randomized controlled trial (n = 1166). Methods: We measured theorized determinants with self-report, and physical activity (PA) with accelerometry and self-report. The effects are evaluated with repeated measures ANOVA and regression models. Results: No changes were detected in most theorized determinants but intervention arm reported higher enactment of behaviour change techniques used during intervention immediately post-intervention and lower descriptive norms for PA throughout. Autonomous motivation was associated with PA immediately post-intervention. Conclusions: The lack of intervention effects may be due to many factors, for example insensitive measures, ceiling effects. However, reporting these null effects advances understanding of behaviour change processes. We introduce methodologic possibilities for future intervention programme theory evaluation efforts.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available in the Finnish Social Science Data Archive at http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3446, reference number FSD3446. Funding information: Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö. Grant Number: OKM/81/626/2014; Academy of Finland. Grant Numbers: 285283, 304114
Uncontrolled Keywords: behaviour change technique enactment,intervention evaluation,physical activity,programme theory,randomized controlled trial,reasoned action approach,self-determination theory,applied psychology ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3202
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 27 Aug 2024 12:30
Last Modified: 27 Nov 2024 10:44
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/96354
DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12744

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