Auld lang syne: success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective non-randomized comparative cohort study followed over six months
PubMed 11920693 · doi:10.1002/jclp.1151
What was done
A prospective cohort study followed 159 New Year's resolvers and 123 comparable nonresolvers interested in changing a problem later over six months using telephone interviews. Baseline characteristics, problem histories, and behavioral goals (primarily weight loss, exercise, and smoking cessation) were assessed prior to January 1, alongside readiness to change, self-efficacy, and change skills.
What was found
Resolvers and nonresolvers did not differ at baseline in demographics, problem histories, or behavioral goals. At six months, 46% of resolvers reported continuous success compared to 4% of nonresolvers. Positive outcomes among resolvers were predicted by baseline self-efficacy, change skills, and readiness to change. Successful resolvers used more cognitive-behavioral processes and fewer awareness-generating and emotion-enhancing processes than unsuccessful resolvers.
Why it matters
Making an explicit New Year's resolution is associated with substantially higher six-month self-reported behavior change success than delaying change, particularly when supported by baseline readiness and active cognitive-behavioral strategies.
Limits
The study relied entirely on self-reported outcomes via telephone without objective biological or behavioral verification. Group allocation was non-random, introducing potential self-selection and motivation biases between resolvers and nonresolvers. The abstract does not report attrition rates or confidence intervals across the six-month follow-up.
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