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Why and for Whom May Coping Planning Have Adverse Effects? A Moderated Mediation Analysis
Author(s) -
Inauen Jennifer,
Stocker Andrea,
Scholz Urte
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
applied psychology: health and well‐being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.276
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1758-0854
pISSN - 1758-0846
DOI - 10.1111/aphw.12130
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , moderation , moderated mediation , psychological intervention , psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychiatry
Background Coping planning, the formation of plans to overcome behavioral barriers is assumed to promote health behavior maintenance, but the literature on this is inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of a coping planning intervention that adversely affected maintained safe water consumption. We also explored perceived behavioral difficulty as a potential moderator of coping planning interventions. Methods In the second phase of a cluster‐randomised trial, households ( N = 177 analyzed) were randomly allocated to a coping planning intervention or a comparison group (repetition of interventions from first intervention phase). Safe water consumption, the mechanisms of coping planning, and perceived difficulty were measured pre‐post. The data were analyzed using mediation and moderated mediation analysis. Results Changes in behavioral intention mediated the intervention effects on behavioral maintenance ( b = −0.36, 95% CI [−0.91, −0.03]). Changes in perceived coping planning ( b = 0.08, 95% CI [−0.12, 0.34]), and maintenance self‐efficacy ( b = −0.13, 95% CI [−0.45, 0.01]) did not mediate the effects. Prior perceived difficulty moderated the coping planning intervention effects on maintenance via intention. Conclusions Coping planning may decrease motivation for health behavior maintenance for persons who experienced few barriers prior to the planning intervention.