Abstract
Group-based interventions are widely used to promote health-related behaviour change. While processes operating in groups have been extensively described, it remains unclear how behaviour change is generated in group-based health-related behaviour-change interventions. Understanding how such interventions facilitate change is important to guide intervention design and process evaluations. We employed a mixed-methods approach to identify, map and define change processes operating in group-based behaviour-change interventions. We reviewed multidisciplinary literature on group dynamics, taxonomies of change technique categories, and measures of group processes. Using weight-loss groups as an exemplar, we also reviewed qualitative studies of participants’ experiences and coded transcripts of 38 group sessions from three weight-loss interventions. Finally, we consulted group participants, facilitators and researchers about our developing synthesis of findings. The resulting ‘Mechanisms of Action in Group-based Interventions’ (MAGI) framework comprises six overarching categories: (1) group intervention design features, (2) facilitation techniques, (3) group dynamic and development processes, (4) inter-personal change processes, (5) selective intra-personal change processes operating in groups, and (6) contextual influences. The framework provides theoretical explanations of how change occurs in group-based behaviour-change interventions and can be applied to optimise their design and delivery, and to guide evaluation, facilitator training and further research.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 227-247 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Journal | Health Psychology Review |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 13 Jun 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Keywords
- Behaviour change
- group dynamics
- interpersonal change processes
- mixed methods
- review
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
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Fiona Gillison
- Department for Health - Professor
- Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change - Deputy Director
- Centre for Qualitative Research
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - Deputy Dean
- Centre for 21st Century Public Health
- Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change
Person: Research & Teaching, Core staff