Mental contrasting is a self-regulation imagery strategy that involves imagining a desired future and mentally contrasting it with the present reality, which is assumed to prompt the individual to realise that action is required to achieve the desired future (Oettingen et al., 1997, 2000 and Oettingen, 2012). Recent research has combined mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) (“if-then” plans; Oettingen & Gollwitzer, 2010; Oettingen, 2012), which is hypothesised to strengthen the effects. A systematic review (PROSPERO reference: CRD42016034202) with meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of mental contrasting for improving health-related behaviours in adult populations, compared with control and active control groups. Searches identified twelve studies (n = 1528) reporting mental contrasting techniques for promoting healthy behaviours (e.g. increasing physical activity or fruit and vegetable intake) and reducing unhealthy behaviours (e.g. smoking, unhealthy snacking) across clinical, student and general populations. A meta-analysis using random effects modelling found a main effect of mental contrasting on health outcomes, adjusted Hedges’ g = 0.28 (SE .07), 95% CI [0.13-0.43], p < 0.001 at up to four weeks, and an increased effect at up to three months (k = 5) with adjusted Hedges’ g = 0.38 (SE 0.6), CI [0.20-0.55], p < 0.001. The combination of mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII; k = 7) showed a similar effect, g = 0.28, CI [0.14-0.42], p < 0.001, which did not differ from mental contrasting alone interventions (k = 5), 0.27, CI [0.12-0.41], p < 0.001. Mental contrasting shows promise as a brief behaviour change strategy with a significant small to moderate-sized effect on changing health behaviour in the short-term. The benefits of mental contrasting appear to be sustained over time. Analysis on a small subset of studies suggested that the addition of implementation intentions (MCII) did not further strengthen the effects of mental contrasting on health behaviours, although additional studies are needed to verify this and to establish further mediator variables.

中文翻译：

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针对健康行为改变的心理对比：效果和主持人变量的系统评价和荟萃分析

精神对比是一种自我调节的影像策略，涉及想象一个理想的未来并将其与当前现实进行心理对比，这被认为是促使个人认识到要实现理想的未来需要采取的行动（Oettingen等，1997； 2000和Oettingen，2012）。最近的研究将精神对比与实施意图（MCII）（“如果-那么”计划； Oettingen＆Gollwitzer，2010； Oettingen，2012）相结合，其被认为可以增强效果。进行了带有荟萃分析的系统评价（PROSPERO参考：CRD42016034202），以评估与对照组和活动对照组相比，心理对比对改善成年人口健康相关行为的有效性。搜索确定了十二项研究（n= 1528）报告了在临床，学生和普通人群中促进健康行为（例如，增加体育锻炼或水果和蔬菜摄入量）和减少不健康行为（例如，吸烟，不健康的零食）的心理对比技术。使用随机效应模型进行的荟萃分析发现，心理对比对健康结局有主要影响，调整后的Hedges's g = 0.28（SE .07），95％CI [0.13-0.43]，长达4周的p <0.001，以及调整后的Hedges's g = 0.38（SE 0.6），CI [0.20-0.55]，p < 0.001 ，可在长达三个月的时间（k = 5）时提高效果。精神对比与实施意图的结合（MCII；k= 7）显示出类似的效果，克= 0.28，CI [0.14-0.42]，p <0.001，其没有从心理对比单独干预不同（ķ = 5），0.27，CI [0.12-0.41]，p <0.001 。心理对比显示出作为短期行为改变策略的希望，对短期内改变健康行为具有显着的中小规模影响。精神对比的好处似乎会随着时间的流逝而持续。对一小部分研究的分析表明，增加实施意图（MCII）并不能进一步加强心理对比对健康行为的影响，尽管还需要进行更多的研究来验证这一点并建立更多的中介变量。