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Health Behavior Modification within a Life History Framework: The Importance of Time Perspective

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2017, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Health Education.
Background: Health educators and public health specialists use theories and models as frameworks for needs assessment, program design, and program evaluation. One theoretical construct outside the field of health education that may assist in helping better predict health behaviors is time perspective. Time perspective is how a person views time in relation to his/her life goals (Lewin, 1951). Time perspective is especially important when it comes to a person’s health behaviors and how they set goals to change those behaviors. Researchers are discovering interesting relationships between a person’s view of time and risk behaviors. Current health behavior theories and models do not typically address individual differences such a time perspective. Furthermore, current theories and models in Health Education do not take into account or explain the key elements surrounding time perspective and other psychological traits such as conscientiousness. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if selected theories and constructs from evolutionary biology and psychology would be useful in the field of Health Education. More specifically, the investigators assessed the usefulness of life history theory, time perspective, and conscientiousness in explaining and predicting common health behaviors and goal setting related to health behavior change. Study Design and Method: This study was an observational, cross-sectional study that used best practices in survey research methods. An online survey was administered to participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). A total of 820 subjects completed the survey. Results: The investigators found that the alternate theories and constructs from evolutionary biology and psychology did not explain or predict a majority of the unique variance in current health behaviors or in behavioral intention to improve health behaviors. However, three theoretical variables were statistically significant predictors of behavioral intentions to eat a healthier diet: 1) life history strategy, 2) consideration of future consequences and, 3) current environmental stability. These three significant predictors accounted for 33% of the variance in the intention to eat a healthier diet. Furthermore, conscientiousness was a statistically significant predictor of self-reported physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, medical check-ups, and engaging in binge drinking. Implications: This is the first study of its kind to explore the relationship between health behavior intentions and selected theories and constructs from evolutionary biology and psychology. Although these alternative theories did not predict or explain a majority of the variance in the health behavior outcomes, they were statistically significantly correlated to several current health behaviors and behavioral intentions. Future research should focus singular health behaviors (rather than multiple behaviors) with low income, high risk populations to better delineate the relationship among these variables.
Timothy Jordan (Committee Chair)
Glassman Tavis (Committee Member)
Sheu Jiunn-Jye (Committee Member)
Miller Steven (Committee Member)
146 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kruger, J. (2017). Health Behavior Modification within a Life History Framework: The Importance of Time Perspective [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1494523465428316

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kruger, Jessica. Health Behavior Modification within a Life History Framework: The Importance of Time Perspective . 2017. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1494523465428316.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kruger, Jessica. "Health Behavior Modification within a Life History Framework: The Importance of Time Perspective ." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1494523465428316

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)