Habits and behaviour change

Our applied research aims to understand and change habit in a range of domains, including health and environment-related behaviours.

Applying habit to real-world behaviours

Among the questions we investigate are the following:

  • How can we change people's habits?
  • Which methods are best for making or breaking habits?

How can we change people’s habits?

GARDNER, B., Rebar, A., de Wit, S., & LALLY, P. (2024) . Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 18, e12975.

GARDNER, B., & Rebar, A.L. (2019) . Oxford Research Encyclopedia.

GARDNER, B., Rebar, A., & LALLY, P. (2020) Habit interventions. In M.S. Hagger, L.D. Cameron, K. Hamilton, N. Hankonen, T. Lintunen (Eds), (pp 599-616). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Example habit change interventions

LALLY, P., Kennedy, F., Smith, S., Beeken, R., Buch, C., Thomas, C., Counsell, N., Wyld, L. Martin, C., Williams, S., Roberts, A., Greenfield, D., Jacqui, G., Potts, H., Latimer, N., Smith, L., & Fisher, A. (2024). . Cancer Medicine. 13, e7124.

LALLY, P., Miller, N., Roberts, A., Beeken, R. J., Greenfield, D. M., Potts, H. W. W., Counsell, N., Latimer, N., Thomas, C., Smith, L., Gath, J., Kennedy, F., Martin, C., Wyld, L. & Fisher, A. (2022). . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8, 74.

LALLY, P., Chipperfield, A., & Wardle, J. (2008). International Journal of Obesity, 32, 700-707.

McGowan, L., Cooke, L.J., GARDNER, B., Beeken, R., Croker, H., & Wardle, J. (2013) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98, 769-777. 

White, I., Smith, L., Aggio, D., Shankar, S., Begum, S., Matei, R., Fox, K.R., Hamer, M., Iliffe, S., Jefferis, B.J., Tyler, N., & GARDNER, B. (2017) Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 3, 23. 

 

Script elicitation - a new method for identifying and changing habitually executed routines

Mohideen, A., Bouvin, C., Judah, G., Picariello, F., & GARDNER, B. (2023). . Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 11, 2162904.

Peer, W., Mathews, R.R., Ng, X., Wong, W.H.C., & GARDNER, B. (2024) . Behavioral Sciences, 14, 572. 

 

Sitting habits

ten Broeke, P., GARDNER, B., Beckers, D., Geurts, S., & Bijleveld, E. (2023). . Health Psychology Review, 17, 641-654.

Dewitt, S., Hall, J., Smith, L., Buckley, J., Biddle, S.J.H., Mansfield, L., & GARDNER, B. (2019) . BMC Public Health, 19, 819.

GARDNER, B., Mainsbridge, C., Rebar, A. L., Cooley, D., Honan, C., O'Brien, J., & Pedersen, S. (2024) International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 31, 55-63.

Child-feeding habits

Engels, L., Mons, C., Mergelsberg, E., Kothe, E., Hamilton, K., GARDNER, B., ten Hoor, G., & Mullan, B. (2022) . Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, 10, 1020-1037.

GARDNER, B., Sheals, K., Wardle, J., & McGowan, L. (2014) . International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11, 135.

McGowan, L., Cooke, L.J., GARDNER, B., Beeken, R., Croker, H., & Wardle, J. (2013) . American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98, 769-777.

Sleep habits

Mohideen, A., Bouvin, C., Judah, G., Picariello, F., & GARDNER, B. (2023). . Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 11, 2162904.

Diaz, M., Ovalle Patino, E., Oliver, S., Tiab, S. S., Salazar, N., Song, J., Dong, L., Sarfan, L.D., Susman, E. S., Agnew, E. R., GARDNER, B., & Harvey, A. (2024). Trials, 25, 782. 

Physical activity habits

Peer, W., Mathews, R.R., Ng, X., Wong, W.H.C., & GARDNER, B. (2024) . Behavioral Sciences, 14, 572.