Effects of decisional control and work orientation on persistence in preventive health behavior.

Examined persistence in the daily use of fluoride mouthrinse in 242 7th-graders from 3 inner-city and 2 suburban schools, as a function of an induced-choice manipulation concerning self-management strategies and freedom to participate in the program. Ss were assigned to either high- or low-choice decisional control manipulations. Ss' daily, home use of fluoride was monitored over 20 wks. To ameliorate the relatively lower persistence rates found previously among suburban vs urban Ss (A. K. Lund and S. S. Kegeles; see record 1988-11515-001), all Ss were given self-management and action instructions. Suburban Ss still declined in persistence relative to urban Ss. Females who received high choice persisted at a higher rate than girls who received low choice. Boys were unaffected by the manipulation. Ss' self-reported work orientation was positively associated with persistence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)