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Journal of behavioral medicine
02, 2024;47 (1): 160-167.

Self-control and grit: associations with weight management and healthy habits.

Amy A Gorin, Tricia M Leahey, Talea Cornelius, Katelyn Bourgea, Theodore A Powers
Author Information
  1. Amy A Gorin: Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, University of Connecticut, 2006 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT, 06269-1248, USA. amy.gorin@uconn.edu. ORCID
  2. Tricia M Leahey: Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, University of Connecticut, 2006 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT, 06269-1248, USA.
  3. Talea Cornelius: Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, 622 W. 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
  4. Katelyn Bourgea: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, 02115-6128, Boston, MA, USA.
  5. Theodore A Powers: Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, 02747, Dartmouth, MA, USA.
PMID: 37440156 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-023-00431-9

Abstract

Weight management requires resisting immediate temptations in one's environment (self-control) as well as the ability to persevere towards one's long-term goals despite minor setbacks (grit). This study sought to establish relationships between self-control, grit, and behavioral and health outcomes in the context of a couples-based weight management intervention. Couples (n���=���64 dyads) in a behaviorally based intervention completed measures of self-control and grit at study entry and the end of treatment (6 months). Habit automaticity for self-weighing and exercise as well as objective weights were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months (maintenance). Self-control and grit increased during treatment; these increases were significantly associated with greater self-weighing habit automaticity at 6 months. Baseline self-control, changes in self-control, and baseline grit were also associated with 6-month exercise automaticity. Only baseline grit was associated with weight loss maintenance. No partner effects were observed. Findings suggest that self-control and grit are malleable constructs that may play an important role in health behavior habits associated with weight management.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02570009, October, 7, 2015.

Keywords

Couples Grit Habits Self-control Weight loss

Associated Data

ClinicalTrials.gov | NCT02570009

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Grants

  1. HL125157/NHLBI NIH HHS

MeSH Term

Female
Humans
Male
Exercise
Habits
Health Behavior
Self-Control
Weight Loss
Clinical Trial Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Article has an altmetric score of 118

Word Cloud

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