[A comparison of motivational intervention and knowledge-supplied intervention for weight control in female students living alone: focus on self-efficacy].

The purpose of this study was: 1) to verify if motivational intervention enhances self-efficacy and desire for weight control; and 2) to compare the performance of weight control, desire, and self-efficacy among subjects in the motivational intervention group with those in the knowledge-supplied intervention group. Subjects included twenty-two female students living alone. The participants were divided into two groups of motivational-intervention (experimental group) and knowledge-supplied intervention (control group), consisting of eleven subjects in each group selected at random. A pre-test/post-test control design was used. Intervention in the experimental group consisted of a confirmation of individual reasons for weight control, connecting weight control with a life worth living for, and self-monitoring. Intervention in the control group however, involved instructions, on physiological and biochemical basis of proper weight control. As the result, these are suggested that the motivational intervention associated with enhancement of self-efficacy in weight control and dietary behavior. Compared to knowledge-based intervention, motivational intervention was associated with higher chewing method performance ratios, longer terms of continuing the chewing method, self-efficacy of weight control, self-efficacy of dietary behavior, and desire to weight control.