RESUMEN
The goal of this article is to introduce readers to theories, tools, and evidence from the field of neuroeconomics and to describe how health psychology and neuroeconomics can be mutually informative in the study of preventative health behaviors. Preventative health behavior here refers to both individual actions that impact one's health (e.g., exercise) and broader behavioral patterns, such as those captured in personality constructs. Although neuroeconomic researchers have begun to incorporate health-relevant behaviors into their studies, the full potential of this research to inform preventative health models is as yet unrealized. What is needed to "translate up" is the unification of rich theoretical content from health psychology with investigations by neuroeconomic researchers of the decision-making process during health-relevant choices. We identify choice as a central, shared feature across models of preventative health behavior that can serve as an inroad for neuroeconomics to contribute to existing models and highlight commonalities that might not otherwise be apparent. A central premise of our argument is that, because health decisions are nearly always multiply determined, a more precise and mechanistic understanding of how choices are made is an important but understudied topic in health psychology. A partnership between health psychologists and neuroeconomic researchers can yield valuable insights into how preventative health choice is made and to identify targets and methods for intervention.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Text-message-based interventions hold great potential for intervention and are increasingly feasible, given advances in information technology. AIMS: This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to compare the efficacy of self-versus expert-authored content delivered via text-messaging for smoking cessation. METHODS: Sixty-two participants aged 25-66 attended laboratory sessions pre- and post-30 days of text-messaging intervention. Participants were randomised to one of two experimental conditions - self-authorship (SA) only and SA with implementation intentions (SA+ii) - or active control. Participants composed 30-60 brief motivational cessation messages for use during their cessation attempt. SA+ii participants were further instructed to anticipate obstacles and form simple if-then plans to overcome them. Experimental groups received their self-authored texts during the intervention phase, whereas control participants received expert-authored messages. RESULTS: Overall, smoking decreased as measured by change in exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), F(1,59) = 4.43, p = 0.04. The SA+ii group showed slightly greater CO reduction (M = 3.63, SD = 5.39) than control (M = 0.03, SD = 5.80; t(40) = 2.08, p = 0.04). SA alone (M = 1.97, SD = 9.30) was not more effective than control. CONCLUSIONS: SA does not appear to increase efficacy. However, this pilot supports prior research, indicating that text-based interventions can increase smoking cessation success and may decrease psychological symptoms of withdrawal. Much research is needed to identify ways to bolster intervention efficacy.
