Self-Persuasion Through Mobile Applications: Exploring Different Routes to Health Behavioral Change

Abstract

Countless messages and campaigns have been designed to convince individuals to engage in healthy behaviors in their daily lives. Because the vast majority of these messages are typically generated by others, the current study explores the effects of self-generated messages in the context of mobile media. A 3 × 2 (persuasion: self- vs. other-generated narrative vs. other-generated non-narrative × topic: regular exercise vs. healthy diet) field experiment (n = 133) was conducted during a 10-day timeframe. Results indicate that self-generated messages were more successful than other-generated messages at increasing vegetable consumption and fruit intake by way of boosting pro-attitudinal arguments and health self-efficacy. However, both self- and other-generated messages failed to increase regular exercise during the study period. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for health interventions.