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Using the Behavior Change Wheel to Understand University Students’ Prolonged Sitting Time and Identify Potential Intervention Strategies

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Abstract

Background

Several national public health guidelines recommend individuals to minimize time spent in prolonged, continuous periods of sitting. Developing effective interventions to break up sitting, however, requires in-depth understanding of the behavior as well as identification of the key elements that need to be targeted to achieve change. This qualitative study focused on university students—a highly sedentary group—with the aim of the following: (i) exploring the factors influencing prolonged sitting time in this population; and (ii) identifying potential avenues for future intervention, based on the Behavior Change Wheel framework.

Method

Eighteen ambulatory undergraduate students participated in semi-structured one-on-one interviews, using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior (COM-B) model and the complementary Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) as the theoretical framework. Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach, followed by inductive thematic analysis.

Results

All COM-B components and eight TDF domains were identified as relevant for influencing the target behavior.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that interventions and policies aimed at reducing prolonged sitting time in university students should (i) raise awareness about negative health implications; (ii) address productivity concerns; (iii) provide training in behavioral self-regulation; (iv) use external reminders; (v) implement habit formation techniques; and (vi) promote social acceptability for breaking up sitting.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all students who volunteered to participate in the study.

Funding

OC was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Scheme scholarship and fee offset program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physically Active Lifestyles Research Group (USQ-PALs), Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, Queensland, 4300, Australia

    Oscar Castro, Ineke Vergeer, Jason Bennie, Jonathan Cagas & Stuart J. H. Biddle

  2. Department of Sports Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, 1101, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

    Jonathan Cagas

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  1. Oscar Castro
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  2. Ineke Vergeer
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  4. Jonathan Cagas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oscar Castro.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Castro, O., Vergeer, I., Bennie, J. et al. Using the Behavior Change Wheel to Understand University Students’ Prolonged Sitting Time and Identify Potential Intervention Strategies. Int.J. Behav. Med. 28, 360–371 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-020-09926-0

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