Experiences of habit formation: A qualitative study

Abstract

Habit formation is an important goal for behaviour change interventions because habitual behaviours are elicited automatically and are therefore likely to be maintained. This study documented experiences of habit development in 10 participants enrolled on a weight loss intervention explicitly based on habit-formation principles. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: Strategies used to support initial engagement in a novel behaviour; development of behavioural automaticity; and selecting effective cues to support repeated behaviour. Results showed that behaviour change was initially experienced as cognitively effortful but as automaticity increased, enactment became easier. Habits were typically formed in work-based contexts. Weekends and vacations temporarily disrupted performance due to absence of associated cues, but habits were reinstated on return to work. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords:

• habit
• behaviour change
• diet
• physical activity
• social cognition

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Lucy Cooke and Ellen van Jaarsveld for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article, and Emily Power for auditing the thematic analysis procedure.

Notes

1. We do not evaluate intervention efficacy in relation to behaviour or weight change here. An evaluation of the intervention, conducted subsequent to this study in a larger sample, has been reported elsewhere (Lally, Chipperfield, & Wardle, 2008).

2. A more comprehensive description of themes arising from these data is provided by Lally (2008).