Edgren, Robert Walter (2026). Habit degradation of health-risk behaviours in daily life. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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Abstract
Habit is the cognitively represented cue-behaviour association acquired through repeatedly performing a behaviour in response to a cue. Once a habit has been formed, it can be an impactful determinant of behaviour that is characterised by automaticity. In daily life, individuals may form habits that later conflict with their goals. Such unwanted habits may hamper efforts to change behaviour in the long term, calling for a need to understand how habits can be degraded. Although 4 theory-based strategies for habit degradation are recognized, little is known about how habit degradation unfolds over time or what factors determine change in habit strength. Accordingly, the empirical work of this dissertation aimed to describe how habit degradation occurs over time, identify its determinants, and understand how a habit degradation attempt can be supported. These aims were addressed in the context of health-risk behaviours that are known to be potentially influenced by underlying habits and that may have a substantial negative impact on health. Methods: Two intensive longitudinal studies were conducted to examine habit degradation in daily life, each using daily self-report measures over 91 consecutive days. In both studies habit strength was measured with the Self-Report Behavioural Automaticity Index (SRBAI), and habit degradation strategy use operationalised with implementation intentions. Study 1 (N = 194; 11’805 SRBAI observations) employed 4 parallel non-randomised groups to investigate habit degradation across sedentary behaviour, unhealthy snacking, alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking. Study 2 (N = 313; 13’922 SRBAI observations) was a randomised controlled study using a 3x2 factorial design with an additional control group investigating unhealthy snacking related habit degradation. Multiple analytic approaches were used to investigate change processes including extensive person-specific modelling of habit strength time series, multilevel modelling, and the extraction of change indicators from person-specific time series for group-level comparisons. Non-linear change in habit strength over time was modelled with polynomial and asymptotic functions, as well as generalized additive models. Results: The findings of the 2 studies are presented across 3 manuscripts. Manuscript I (based on Study 1) showed that habit degradation typically follows a decelerating negative trend over time, with large interindividual differences but no differences in the change process across the 4 behaviours. Manuscript II (also based on Study 1) found that habit strength was lower on days when individuals avoided performing the habitual behaviour after encountering the cue and experienced this as more rewarding than on average. Findings did not indicate differences between the habit degradation strategies of substitution, inhibition, and cue discontinuity. Manuscript III (based on Study 2) showed that habit degradation may initially occur at a faster rate when using a habit degradation strategy compared to control, but no other differences were observed across the various indicators of change investigated. This included null findings for experimentally manipulated reward and for comparisons between the habit degradation strategies of substitution, inhibition and reduced accessibility. Discussion: Habit degradation was often a non-linear and decelerating process that varied considerably between individuals, with stabilization at a lower bound observed in a minority of trajectories. Refraining from performing the habitual behaviour in response to cue encounters appeared central to habit degradation. Additionally, findings suggest that intrinsic facets of reward may be influential in facilitating habit degradation. All 4 strategies were capable of degrading habit, although substitution emerged as the preferred choice. However, findings also indicate that multiple strategies are often used collaboratively in daily life. Implementation intentions proved to be a viable approach for supporting habit degradation in daily life, which can be effectively facilitated remotely among motivated adults. While forming an implementation intention may enhance an immediate sense of goal-directed control, the provision of information about habit and the heightened self-monitoring inherent to intensive longitudinal studies may have also contributed towards habit degradation. Moving forward, habit research is encouraged to continue to develop methods for habit strength measurement in daily life, opportunities for which are discussed. Future research aiming to intervene on existing health-risk behaviour related habits may benefit from approaches that account for momentary goal-directed control and are sensitive to the potentially multifaceted nature of reward.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
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| Granting Institution: | Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Bern |
| Dissertation Type: | Cumulative |
| Date of Defense: | 8 January 2026 |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy > 150 Psychology |
| Institute / Center: | 07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology |
| Depositing User: | Robert Walter Edgren |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jan 2026 17:59 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2026 08:41 |
| Link to associated content: | |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/6969 |
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