How Do Emotions during Goal Pursuit in Weight Change over Time? Retrospective Computational Text Analysis of Goal Setting and Striving Conversations with a Coach during a Mobile Weight Loss Program

During behavioral weight management, individuals reflect on their progress and barriers through goal pursuit (goal setting and goal striving). Emotions during goal pursuit are largely unknown, and previous investigations of emotions in weight management have primarily relied on self-report. In this retrospective study, we used a well-validated computational text analysis approach to explore how emotion words changed over time during goal setting and striving conversations with a coach in a mobile weight loss program. Linear mixed models examined changes in emotion words each month from baseline to program end and compared emotion words between individuals who set an overall concrete goal for the program (concrete goal setters) and those who set an overall abstract goal (abstract goal setters). Contrary to findings using self-report, positive emotion words were stable and negative emotion words significantly increased over time. There was a marginal trend towards greater negative emotion word use being associated with greater weight loss. Concrete goal setters used more positive words than abstract goal setters, with no differences in negative emotion words and weight loss. Implications include the possibility that individuals may need increasing support over time for negative emotions expressed during goal setting and striving, and concrete goals could boost positive emotion. Future research should investigate these possibilities.

Automated summary

Emotion words during goal pursuit in a weight loss program were analyzed using a computational text analysis approach. Positive emotion words remained stable while negative emotion words increased over time, contrary to self-report findings. Concrete goal setters used more positive words and there was a trend towards greater weight loss with higher negative emotion word use.