A large-scale experiment on New Year's resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial.
PubMed 33296385 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234097
What was done
A total of 1,066 participants from the general public freely formulated New Year's resolutions and were randomized into three intervention groups receiving different levels of goal-setting guidance and exercises: active control, some support, and extended support. Resolutions were categorized by focus (including approach-oriented versus avoidance-oriented), and self-reported success was evaluated at a one-year follow-up.
What was found
The most common resolution topics were physical health, weight loss, and eating habits. At one year, 55% of responding participants reported sustaining their resolutions. Participants with approach-oriented goals had significantly higher success rates than those with avoidance-oriented goals (58.9% vs. 47.1%). The group receiving some support was significantly more successful than both the active control group and the extended support group.
Why it matters
This study shows that framing personal goals toward achieving positive behaviors rather than avoiding undesirable ones, paired with moderate goal-setting guidance, improves long-term resolution adherence over a full year.
Limits
Resolution success was measured via subjective self-report rather than objective behavioral metrics. The abstract does not report follow-up response or attrition rates, exact effect sizes, p-values, or confidence intervals.
Cited by
- supports The most common New Year's resolution is to do some form of exercise.