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A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Applications of the Self-Report Habit Index to Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviours

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Health behaviour models typically neglect habitual action. The Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI) permits synthesis of evidence of the influence of habit on behaviour.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to review evidence around mean habit strength, habit–behaviour correlations, and habit × intention interactions, from applications of the SRHI to dietary, physical activity, and active travel behaviour.

Method

Electronic database searches identified 126 potentially relevant papers. Twenty-two papers (21 datasets) passed eligibility screening. Mean scores and correlations were meta-analysed using fixed, random and mixed effects, and interactions were synthesised via narrative review.

Results

Twenty-three habit–behaviour correlations and nine habit × intention interaction tests were found. Typical habit strength was located around the SRHI midpoint. Weighted habit–behaviour effects were medium-to-strong (fixed: r +  = 0.44; random: r +  = 0.46). Eight tests found that habit moderated the intention–behaviour relation.

Conclusion

More comprehensive understanding of nutrition and activity behaviours will be achieved by accounting for habitual responses to contextual cues.

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Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, 1–19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Benjamin Gardner DPhil, MRes, BA & Phillippa Lally PhD

  2. Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Gert-Jan de Bruijn PhD

Authors
  1. Benjamin Gardner DPhil, MRes, BA
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  2. Gert-Jan de Bruijn PhD
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Correspondence to Benjamin Gardner DPhil, MRes, BA.

Electronic supplementary material

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12160_2011_9282_MOESM1_ESM.doc

Supplementary table. Mixed effect meta-analysis: methodological characteristics as potential moderators of habit–behaviour effects (N = 6173†; k = 23) (DOC 62 kb)

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Gardner, B., de Bruijn, GJ. & Lally, P. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Applications of the Self-Report Habit Index to Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviours. ann. behav. med. 42, 174–187 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9282-0

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