Experiences of habit formation: A qualitative study

TLDR

Habit formation is a key goal for behaviour change interventions because habitual behaviours are elicited automatically and are therefore likely to be maintained. This study documented the experiences of habit development in ten participants enrolled in a weight‑loss intervention explicitly based on habit‑formation principles. Thematic analysis identified three themes: strategies to support initial engagement in a novel behaviour, the development of behavioural automaticity, and the selection of effective cues to sustain repeated behaviour. Participants reported that behaviour change was initially cognitively effortful but became easier as automaticity increased; habits formed mainly in work contexts, were temporarily disrupted on weekends and vacations, yet were reinstated upon return to work, highlighting implications for theory and practice.

Abstract

Habit formation is an important goal for behaviour change interventions because habitual behaviours are elicited automatically and are therefore likely to be maintained. This study documented experiences of habit development in 10 participants enrolled on a weight loss intervention explicitly based on habit-formation principles. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: Strategies used to support initial engagement in a novel behaviour; development of behavioural automaticity; and selecting effective cues to support repeated behaviour. Results showed that behaviour change was initially experienced as cognitively effortful but as automaticity increased, enactment became easier. Habits were typically formed in work-based contexts. Weekends and vacations temporarily disrupted performance due to absence of associated cues, but habits were reinstated on return to work. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.