Healthy aging can be promoted by targeting health behaviors such as sedentary behavior (SB). SB is often a habit and part of the daily routine of older adults (60+). Despite the value of habit disruption strategies to target the automatic processes underlying SB, shown in literature, none of the existing SB interventions have made use of these strategies. Moreover, existing interventions often start from the ‘one size fits all principle’. However, an intervention always takes place in a specific context and the underlying mechanisms of behavior change are often underestimated. Therefore, a more personalized approach in behavior change interventions is necessary. Consequently, the overall aim of this project is to understand how, for whom and under which circumstances habit substitution strategies can be applied to reduce older adults’ prolonged habitual SB. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods will be used, with the realist methodology as common thread throughout two studies: (1) An observational ecological event-based momentary assessment study to determine which cues, rewards and goals are associated with prolonged habitual SB, and (2) Face-to-face interviews in a subsample to gain insight into feasible substitutes for prolonged SB.

Link to Research Explorer

People involved

• Laura Van de Velde
• Prof. Greet Cardon
• Prof. Delfien Van Dyck
• Dr. Sofie Compernolle
  
  

Disciplines involved

• Health Promotion
• Health Psychology
• Public Health Sciences
• Movement and Sports Sciences

Funding Agency

Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)