Enhanced life functioning: Initial efficacy of a theoretical approach to integrate multiple health behavior interventions in young adults

ObjectivesWe propose a new theoretical model that integrates health interventions targeting multiple health behaviors around a common framework of enhancing life functioning. We then test an enhanced life functioning message against an enhanced physical health message in increasing participants' perceived importance of engaging in multiple health behaviors.Methods94 undergraduate participants were exposed to either an enhanced life functioning message or an enhanced physical health message and then completed measures of health behavior importance and benefits associated with enhanced life functioning importance in the spring of 2008 at Rutgers University.ResultsResults indicate the efficacy of an enhanced life functioning message in increasing participants' perceived importance of engaging in multiple health behaviors. Moreover, the effect of an enhanced life functioning message on perceived health behavior importance is mediated by perceived importance of the benefits associated with enhanced life functioning.ConclusionsEmphasizing enhanced life functioning as an outcome of engaging in multiple health behaviors increases the perceived importance of performing multiple health behaviors, which may influence the performance of multiple health behaviors.