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Perceived Control and Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation for Oral Self-Care: A Full Factorial Experimental Test of Theory-Based Persuasive Messages

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Correlational evidence suggests that perceived control (PC) and intrinsic motivation (IM), key constructs in social cognitive and self-determination theories, may interact to reinforce behavior change.

Purpose

This proof-of-principle study examines the independent and synergistic effects of interventions to increase PC and IM upon dental flossing frequency.

Methods

University students (n = 185) were randomized in a 2 × 2 full factorial design to receive two computer-based interventions: one to either increase or decrease PC and another to increase either IM or extrinsic motivation. These constructs were measured immediately post-intervention; flossing behavior was measured 1 week later.

Results

The interventions to increase PC and PC/IM had main and interaction effects on flossing, respectively. The PC/IM interaction effect was mediated by increases in PC and IM.

Conclusions

Combining interventions to increase PC and IM seems to be a promising avenue of research, which has implications for both theory and intervention development.

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Authors Statement of Conflict of Interest and Adherence to Ethical Standards

Authors Liam Staunton, Paul Gellert, Keegan Knittle, and Falko F. Sniehotta all declare to have no conflict of interest. All procedures, including the informed consent process, were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. The study was approved by the School of Psychology Ethical Board of Aberdeen University (PEC: 1810060780).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

    Liam Staunton M.Sc

  2. Health Psychology Group, Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Paul Gellert Ph.D., Keegan Knittle Ph.D. & Falko F. Sniehotta Ph.D.

  3. Institute of Medical Sociology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Paul Gellert Ph.D.

  4. MoveLab, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Keegan Knittle Ph.D.

  5. Fuse Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Falko F. Sniehotta Ph.D.

  6. Institute of Health & Society, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK

    Falko F. Sniehotta Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Liam Staunton M.Sc
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  2. Paul Gellert Ph.D.
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  3. Keegan Knittle Ph.D.
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  4. Falko F. Sniehotta Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Falko F. Sniehotta Ph.D..

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Staunton, L., Gellert, P., Knittle, K. et al. Perceived Control and Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation for Oral Self-Care: A Full Factorial Experimental Test of Theory-Based Persuasive Messages. ann. behav. med. 49, 258–268 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9655-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9655-2

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