BeUpstanding encourages workers to “stand up, sit less, and move more.” This 8-week program uses a “train-the-champion” approach, equipping workplace leaders with resources like posters, videos, and email templates to promote a culture of movement, resulting in better health, higher productivity, and reduced stress. But what ensures the program’s effectiveness? The answer lies in the behavioural change theories that underpin it. In this blog, we’ll explore how theory guides intervention development and how BeUpstanding uses evidence-based frameworks. The Importance of Theory in Behaviour Change Theory is the backbone of behaviour change interventions. It helps designers understand not just the behaviour they aim to change but the context in which it occurs. For BeUpstanding, understanding why people sit at work and what motivates them to move more was crucial. Further, theories identify triggers and drivers of behaviour, guiding the selection of techniques most likely to succeed in a given context. Without theory, interventions may fail to address the root causes of the behaviour. Selecting the Right Theory Choosing the wrong theory or applying it poorly can undermine an intervention. Many interventions fail because they: Choose an unsuitable theory, Use the theory incorrectly, Reference the theory superficially, or Address too few behaviour…
