Resource model of behaviour change

Given the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases worldwide, understanding health behaviour change is gaining interest. Previous studies have identified a range of resources that individuals need to change their health behaviour. To date, automatic, implicit or non-cognitive aspects of behaviour, such as neurobiological motivation and reward mechanisms (MBn), have received little attention.

A project funded by Dr. Ausbüttel GmbH on lifestyle modification for diabetes patients has resulted in a larger project in which the latest neuroscientific findings on MBn are integrated into the analysis of behaviour change techniques.

This has resulted in the Behaviour Change Resource Model (BCRM). In the publications on the BCRM, a flexible seven-stage process of behaviour change is presented according to the concept of MBn and the MBn are associated with each of these stages. As a result, the resources identified in the literature are categorised into three different groups: External, Internal Reflective and Internal Affective resources. Based on this triad, behaviour change techniques are classified according to their functional mechanisms into facilitating (= provision of external resources), boosting (= strengthening of internal reflective resources) and nudging (= activation of internal affective resources). The advantages and limitations of this model are then presented.

The model can be used to develop health behaviour change interventions that promote engagement and empowerment.

The project team is currently working on testing the model in different settings and with different target groups.