A comparison of writing exercises to motivate young women to practise breast self-examinations

Objectives. This study investigated the novel use of written emotional disclosure procedures for motivating health behavior change, specifically engagement in breast self examination (BSE) among college-aged women. Writing instructions were tailored to a precontemplative stage of change in accordance with the transtheoretical model proposed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) to test the hypothesis that stagernatched writing strategy would facilitate greater contemplation than a stagemismatched writing strategy and a control condition. Design and methods. Precontemplative women (N = 55) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) a stage-matched consciousness-raising writing exercise; (b) a stage- mismatched BSE action-oriented exercise; or (c) a control condition, and measured on contemplation, preparation, and action, as well as performance of BSEs. Results. Analyses indicated that both the consciousness-raising writing exercise and the BSE action-oriented exercise increased participants' level of contemplation when compared to the control condition. Women assigned to the BSE action-oriented exercise endorsed more statements indicative of an action stage of change and exhibited a trend for greater performance of BSE compared to the other two conditions. Conclusions. The application of writing exercises and the relevance of stagematching is discussed in the context of the stage of change model.