Stages of change and possible selves: 2 tools for promoting college health.

Holistic Health Care Program, College of Health and Human Services, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA. k.horneffer-ginter@w.mich.edu

When considering health promotion among college students, 2 questions that arise are how to (1) most effectively offer health initiatives and (2) motivate students to participate in these efforts. OBJECTIVE: In responding to these questions, the author considered 2 health-promotion tools: the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves. PARTICIPANTS: There were 304 college students who participated in this study. METHODS: To explore how such information can assist health-promotion planning by determining which behaviors to target and how to match interventions to the overall population's stage of change, the author had students report their stage of change for 6 health behaviors. In addition, to explore possible motivations for moving from the precontemplation to the preparation stage of change, the author had students generate future self-concepts regarding their health (health-related possible selves). RESULTS: The number of illness-related possible selves cited was significantly related to stage of change for smoking and stress management. For smoking, precontemplators had the fewest number of illness-related possible selves; however, the author observed the opposite for stress management. CONCLUSION: The findings have implications for how the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves can serve as useful tools in promoting college health.

PMID: 18316277 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]