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If you want to encourage loved ones to take better care of themselves in the new year, researchers may have uncovered the secret to success. Instead of nagging, which is likely to be counterproductive, simply ask, “Will you exercise this year?”
The authors of a new study say the approach, known as the “question-behavior effect,” has proven effective in years of research.
To better understand how it works, they evaluated more than 100 previous studies that looked at the question-behavior effect. Their meta-analysis showed there may be several reasons why asking about a certain behavior can positively influence a person’s chances of doing that behavior in the future, co-author Ioannis Kareklas told CBS News.
Kareklas, an assistant professor of marketing at the University at Albany School of Business, said various studies looked at topics ranging from voting to recycling to wellness, and they found that overall, asking questions such as “Will you exercise?”, “Will you floss?” and “Will you recycle?” has a long-term impact in many areas of life.
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source: cbsnews.com
