Motivation from values in computerized health interventions
KORHONEN, KAISA (2011)
2011
Psykologia - Psychology
Yhteiskunta- ja kulttuuritieteiden yksikkö - School of Social Sciences and Humanities
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2011-11-16
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21919
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21919
Tiivistelmä
There is an urgent need for cost-effectiveness in health care. Computerized health interventions offer a way of reaching large numbers of people, whilst requiring moderate resources. However, if no human contact can be provided within the intervention, users’ motivation for health behaviour change might be limited. The effects of personal values as a means to motivate users were researched. It was assumed that integrating a highly personal component to the intervention would make computerized health interventions feel more meaningful and relevant.
The main part of this thesis consists of a literary review of the articles discussing the relation of personal values to motivation. After a primary overview, two theoretical approaches were chosen for further examination: self-determination theory (SDT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
According to SDT, both the quantity and the quality of motivation are important. For optimal motivation, humans must feel autonomy, mastery, and connectedness. Supporting these basic psychological needs can help to integrate the values related to certain behaviour, thus making it more self-determined. The SDT approach could provide basis for increasing motivation without conscious values-work (e.g. through a rationale for healthy behaviour, based on personal values).
ACT views valued behaviour as the ultimate goal of any intervention. It focuses on the intrinsically reinforcing nature of valued behaviour. Thus, linking personal values to healthy behaviour could increase motivation for the latter. Preliminary evidence from analogous framing of values and coping with pain supports this rationale. Additionally, focusing on valued behaviour has been shown to increase well-being. However, in ACT values are contextually defined, and thus need to be clarified in detail; the ACT approach could provide basis for increasing motivation through deliberate considerations of personally meaningful values and behaviour.
To further examine the feasibility of supporting motivation through personal values in computerized health interventions, a pilot study was conducted. Respondents (n = 69) were presented with messages aimed at increasing motivation for physical exercise. Two of the messages were based on factual information, one on the general idea of a good life, and eight on the main motivational dimensions from Schwartz value theory. Respondents were asked to rate the messages on their motivational quality. The Short Schwartz Value Survey was used to determine the values orientation of the respondents. Descriptive analyses were then performed on the data. It was found that most of the respondents found some of the values-based messages more motivating that the messages based on fact alone. However, importantly, most of the respondents rated some of the values-based messages less motivating than the fact messages; indicating the need for personally meaningful communication. A majority of the respondents also rated some of the values-based messages more motivating than the general idea of good life, indicating that personalization and precision are important. Generally, values-based messages were rated higher by those with congruent personal values than by those with conflicting values. However, on an individual level, values-orientation alone was not enough to predict which messages the respondents rated highest.
Based on the literature, it appears that values could help to make health interventions personally meaningful. Both active values work and tailoring on values appear feasible. However, for future considerations it would be important to further determine the necessary level of detail for values-based communication.
This thesis was written at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, during the period from April 2010 to May 2011. The study was supported by the SalWe Research Program for Mind and Body (Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation grant 1104/10).
Asiasanat:Motivation, Personal values, Computerized health intervention
The main part of this thesis consists of a literary review of the articles discussing the relation of personal values to motivation. After a primary overview, two theoretical approaches were chosen for further examination: self-determination theory (SDT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
According to SDT, both the quantity and the quality of motivation are important. For optimal motivation, humans must feel autonomy, mastery, and connectedness. Supporting these basic psychological needs can help to integrate the values related to certain behaviour, thus making it more self-determined. The SDT approach could provide basis for increasing motivation without conscious values-work (e.g. through a rationale for healthy behaviour, based on personal values).
ACT views valued behaviour as the ultimate goal of any intervention. It focuses on the intrinsically reinforcing nature of valued behaviour. Thus, linking personal values to healthy behaviour could increase motivation for the latter. Preliminary evidence from analogous framing of values and coping with pain supports this rationale. Additionally, focusing on valued behaviour has been shown to increase well-being. However, in ACT values are contextually defined, and thus need to be clarified in detail; the ACT approach could provide basis for increasing motivation through deliberate considerations of personally meaningful values and behaviour.
To further examine the feasibility of supporting motivation through personal values in computerized health interventions, a pilot study was conducted. Respondents (n = 69) were presented with messages aimed at increasing motivation for physical exercise. Two of the messages were based on factual information, one on the general idea of a good life, and eight on the main motivational dimensions from Schwartz value theory. Respondents were asked to rate the messages on their motivational quality. The Short Schwartz Value Survey was used to determine the values orientation of the respondents. Descriptive analyses were then performed on the data. It was found that most of the respondents found some of the values-based messages more motivating that the messages based on fact alone. However, importantly, most of the respondents rated some of the values-based messages less motivating than the fact messages; indicating the need for personally meaningful communication. A majority of the respondents also rated some of the values-based messages more motivating than the general idea of good life, indicating that personalization and precision are important. Generally, values-based messages were rated higher by those with congruent personal values than by those with conflicting values. However, on an individual level, values-orientation alone was not enough to predict which messages the respondents rated highest.
Based on the literature, it appears that values could help to make health interventions personally meaningful. Both active values work and tailoring on values appear feasible. However, for future considerations it would be important to further determine the necessary level of detail for values-based communication.
This thesis was written at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, during the period from April 2010 to May 2011. The study was supported by the SalWe Research Program for Mind and Body (Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation grant 1104/10).
Asiasanat:Motivation, Personal values, Computerized health intervention