Achieving the Scottish Government's carbon reduction targets requires not only the decarbonisation of industry and electricity generation, which is now largely underway, but also significant changes in the actions and decisions of millions of individuals, whose carbon emissions fall outside the areas which Government can control. Transport, much of it undertaken by individuals, accounts for around 20% of Scotland's carbon emissions. Policy aimed at changing individual travel behaviours will therefore become increasingly important. Commonly applied behaviour change strategies based on rational actor theory face conceptual problems and cannot overcome the lack of agency experienced by individuals buffeted by a range of influences in a complex world. Practice theory relocates the site of analysis from the individual to the social and helps to overcome these problems, but it is not clear how to deliberately change practices to achieve the carbon reductions required. Understanding practices as emergent properties of complex social systems suggests that working to alter the complex social system may lead to different emergent properties, i.e. more sustainable practices. My research explored this approach by conducting an experiment in Aberdeen that sought to influence the complex social system within which audiences travel to a large theatre in the city. Emergent properties of the system encouraged travel by private car: problems of (in)convenience and insecurity were shaping individuals' travel practices. Collaboration between actors powerful enough to affect the system - a transport provider, a local authority and the theatre itself - was needed to influence it sufficiently to bring about a change in the main travel mode from private cars to public transport. Analysis of this case identifies the need to acknowledge the relevance of complexity theory when developing carbon reduction policy. Perverse incentives encouraging public organisations to focus on their own 'direct' carbon emissions need to be replaced with a duty to collaborate with others to reduce society's overall carbon emissions. Those making policy and those implementing it will therefore need to understand and apply complexity theory, and will need highly developed skills in managing long-term collaborative projects rather than 'delivering' one-off changes. These attributes may be found in practitioners from diverse and less obvious fields, including the cultural sector.

Current UK public health policy and research identifies potential health risks of physical inactivity and high levels of sitting. This is a particularly pertinent issue for office workers, who spend, on average, over two-thirds of the work day sitting. This thesis reports on the design and evaluation of a multicomponent sit-stand desk intervention, delivered within two not-for-profit office-based organisations in London, England. A mixed method study design was employed. A pilot randomised controlled trial examined the efficacy of the intervention on reducing sitting and increasing standing and physical activity, using wearable monitors to measure outcome variables at baseline, and at four additional timepoints up to 12-months following the onset of the intervention. A process evaluation, including in-depth qualitative interviews and participant observation, investigated the processes that influenced the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of the intervention. Mixed-model ANOVA indicated that the intervention reduced workplace sitting, on average, by 38 minutes, however there was no significant influence on workplace physical activity, or any of the outcome variables across the whole day. The process evaluation revealed that discourses surrounding employee health and organisational effectiveness, and employees' health-focused occupational identities increased the acceptability of sit-stand desk provision, whereas monetary concerns, a centralised organisational structure and incompatibility of the sit-stand desks with the workplace environment negatively influenced implementation feasibility. The sit-stand desk design, expectations and outcomes related to health and productivity, and the organisational culture and interpersonal relationships positively and negatively influenced sit-stand desk experience to differing degrees between participants. Mixed method analyses of outcome and process data illustrated the potential for integrating findings to enhance understanding of 'what works' within behavioural intervention research. Sit-stand desks are not a one-size-fits-all solution to reducing sitting and increasing physical activity, however, they should be available to office-based employees as part of a wider workplace health strategy.

Although several sustainability implementation frameworks have been proposed, researchers have not yet proposed theories or models to help organisations speed up the rate of sustainability diffusion and narrow the gap between what is known and what is put into use. This study sought to fill this gap by proposing a sustainability diffusion model. The model was developed from an exhaustive review of the corresponding literature. It uses Rogers' (1962) diffusion of innovations theory and Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behaviour as a theoretical foundation. The model was tested and its structural architecture was validated in three different sustainability contexts; namely, duplex printing in UK universities; sustainable computing in service-based businesses; and sustainability culture in UK universities. The primary data was analysed statistically using SPSS, and structural equation modelling (SEM) in particular was used to validate the structural architecture of the proposed model. The SEM results indicate that the structural architecture of the theory of planned behaviour is well-founded. All the hypotheses that underline the theory's paths were supported. In contrast, the structural architecture of the diffusion of innovations theory was weakly supported. Some of the paths were rejected in at least two occasions. For example, the relationship between pro-sustainability knowledge and attitude was neither statistically significant nor directional. Moreover, several components of the 'verified' model turned out to be statistically insignificant or were rejected altogether. These were knowledge, perceived self interest, perceived persuader legitimacy, perceived consequences, perceived argument quality, trialability and perceived source credibility. Accordingly, once these constructs were removed and the model was restructured in accordance with the results of SEM analysis, an entirely new version of the 'sustainability diffusion model' emerged (See Figure IX-2). The architecture of the new model suggests that in order to speed up the rate of sustainability diffusion, change agents must emphasise the relative advantage, compatibility, subjective norm and the urgency of the pro-sustainability initiative under implementation and de-emphasise any complexities or risks associated with its operationalisation. Unexpectedly, the new version of the proposed model relies more on Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behaviour as a theoretical foundation than on Rogers' (1983) innovation-decision process model. In other words, the new model maintained almost all the features of the theory of planned behaviour, but it only absorbed some, but not all, of the components of Rogers' innovation-decision process model. Nevertheless, the new model maintained its holistic nature. It still takes into account both the person-specific and innovation-specific factors that influence the diffusion, adoption and actualisation of pro-sustainability behaviours/initiatives.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetically inherited disease which adversely affects the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Malnutrition is a major clinical problem in individuals with the disease. Nutritional interventions are warranted as improvements in nutritional status could improve the rates of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. The review of the literature indicated the need to develop a behavioural-based nutrition prevention program in order for children to achieve CF dietary requirements and appropriate pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.Methods: The intervention program, Go and Grow with CF, and nutrition and pancreatic enzyme knowledge and self-management questionnaires were developed for children with CF and their carers as part of this thesis. Social learning theory constructs which particularly assist children in achieving desirable behaviours were applied during the development of the Go and Grow with CF program. The program consisted of workshops and a home-based course.Fifty eight children with cystic fibrosis, aged 2 to 11 years, and their carers participated in a clinical trial that was designed to assess the effects of the Go and Grow with CF pilot program on knowledge, self-management, behaviour, dietary intake and body composition, using anthropometry. Process evaluation was conducted on the pilot program and on the clinic-wide implementation of the revised Go and Grow with CF program. The revised program included the Australian Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy Guidelines and the effects of fat-based dosing were assessed with a cohort of 29 children with CF-related pancreatic insufficiency aged 1 to 13 years.Results: Similar to the process evaluation of the pilot program, 100% of carers who completed the revised home-based course indicated that they would recommend Go and Grow with CF to other families ++ / with a child who has CF. The 'objective assessment of knowledge indicated a significant m improvement in' children's knowledge in the short-term. There were no statistically significant improvements in any of the other parameters assessed. The lack of significant improvements in self-management, behaviour, dietary intake and anthropometry may have been because the program had no effect, the parameters assessed or the instruments used (particularly the questionnaires) were not sufficiently sensitive, the sample size (which was determined by the CF population available) was too small or the duration of the intervention and follow-up was too short.Conclusion: Carers' unanimous recommendation of Go and Grow with CF, together with high levels of perceived learning, reported increase in confidence and improvement in children's knowledge in the short-term, indicate the benefits of the program.Although there was no statistically significant improvement in the anthropometric measurements after the intervention, 'the extensive data obtained during this study suggest that measurements of height and weight may underestimate the presence of poor nutritional status. It is likely that comprehensive assessments of body composition of children with CF would be useful in detecting mild degrees of malnutrition and in providing information about the effects of nutritional status on morbidity and mortality associated with the disease.Fat-based pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy dosing warrants further investigation given that parents had a strong preference for this method and that fat absorption remains abnormal in the majority of individuals who have pancreatic insufficiency. Evaluation of all pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy dosing methods are needed and this research suggests that dose should be assessed on a meal and snack basis, rather than just on daily intake, in order ++ / for levels of adherence to be examined.The apparent absence of a long-term effect of a single exposure to the program on knowledge suggests that regular, ongoing education and counselling is required by families to reinforce aspects related to the child's current stage of development and disease status.

This thesis describes a systematic research enquiry into influencing more sustainable behaviour through design, which has produced communicable new knowledge in the form of a design pattern toolkit, called Design with Intent, developed and evaluated through an action research process. The toolkit aims to help designers create products, services and environments which in_uence the way people use them, primarily for environmental and social bene_t; it brings together techniques for understanding and changing human behaviour from a range of psychological and technical disciplines, illustrated with examples, with the aim of enabling designers to explore and apply relevant strategies to problems. `Design for behaviour change' has grown signi_cantly as a _eld in the past few years, to a large extent due to recognition of the contributions that user behaviour makes to the environmental and social impact of technology_and designed systems in general. People's behaviour is inevitably in_uenced by the design of the systems which they use, and it is not a great leap to consider that design could be used intentionally to in_uence behaviour where some benet would result. This thesis starts by identifying the need for a guide for designers working on behaviour change. It extracts insights from reviews of perspectives on in_uencing behaviour from di_erent disciplines, inside and outside of `design', which could be usefully applied in a design context. Through an action research process of iterative development and workshops with design practitioners and students, these insights are incorporated into a toolkit for designers, which is applied mainly to environmental and social behaviour change briefs. Versions of the toolkit are made publicly available, and feedback from early users in different contexts is analysed and implications for continuing development discussed.

This research examines the interrelationships between tourism, poverty alleviation, and social marketing. It argues that tourism growth is necessary but insufficient by itself to alleviate poverty. Although tourism has often been connected with poverty under the rubric of pro-poor tourism (PPT), limited research has investigated this from the poor’s perspective. Little is also known of various poverty causes, including poor people’s behaviours in affecting poverty. Although tourism may contribute to alleviating poverty, negative poverty-related behaviours (e.g. depletion of natural resources) are still found in some host destinations. Where behaviour change is considered significant for tourism to help alleviate poverty, social marketing may be important given its potential in motivating voluntary behaviour change. This is particularly necessary for a developing country such as Vietnam, where tourism is encouraged for poverty alleviation. The district of Sapa, Vietnam is chosen as a case study area, which has substantial levels of poverty although tourism has developed for years. This research seeks to answer four main questions: What are the barriers to poverty alleviation identified by PPT projects in Vietnam? What are the roles of social marketing in PPT projects in Vietnam? What are the barriers to poverty alleviation identified by PPT projects as perceived by local people and key informants in Sapa? What are the roles of tourism as a means of poverty alleviation as perceived by the locals in Sapa? This research was designed in two stages. The first involved a content analysis of tourism-related projects in Vietnam, where a systematic search for project documents was conducted. Forty-five projects were found and then analysed against a set of six social marketing benchmark criteria. Twenty-one projects were judged to meet all the criteria, most of which were implemented in national parks (NPs) and nature reserves (NRs) that are home to important resources for tourism. Typical project objectives included preventing or mitigating local people’s dependence on natural resources and promoting tourism as an alternative livelihood. The most popular competing factors identified were local people’s poor perception of conservation needs and traditional dependence on natural resources, stakeholder conflicts, and weak policy implementation. This stage suggested that social marketing might help tourism contribute to natural resource conservation and poverty alleviation. The second stage utilised both qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews were conducted with 47 poor people and key informants in Sapa. A survey was then administered with 187 local people. It identified that local people perceive poverty as a lack of rice and/or income and attribute it to internal and/or external causes. Tourism holds important potential for poverty alleviation in Sapa. However, this potential is substantially reduced by barriers to business development, employment, and thus benefit distribution within the sector. It is also worsened by the exclusion of poor people from development plans, decision-making processes, and project design and implementation. The non-poor and tour operators are perceived as the main beneficiaries of tourism. Local women often follow tourists to sell handicrafts, resulting in discomfort for tourists and conflicts among community members. More local people consider tourism a contributor to poverty alleviation and wish to participate in tourism. The most critical barriers preventing participation include insufficient knowledge, skills, work experience, funds, and poor foreign language proficiency. Limited capital and farming land is the most important obstacle to poverty alleviation overall. This research suggests that to maintain the long-term viability of tourism in Sapa, social marketing can be used to promote behaviour change in handicraft sellers and forest resource dependents. To this end, alternative livelihoods other than tourism are required. There is a need to put in place a policy framework that entitles poor people to more land in the forest so that they can grow more rice and medicinal fruit and protect their own forestland. Social marketing can also promote changes in the self-interested practices of tourism businesses and relevant forest policies. In addition, an appropriate intervention framework should be established to reduce household sizes and thus mitigate land use pressures. From a local perspective, this research helps planners, managers, and policy-makers in Sapa as well as other similar destinations in Vietnam and elsewhere understand more clearly the barriers to poverty alleviation and the obstacles to poor people’s participation in tourism. It also generates greater awareness among academics and the public in Vietnam regarding the potential of social marketing for alleviating poverty through tourism. On a broader scale, this research enriches and deepens tourism scholars and practitioners’ understanding of the various ways social marketing can help alleviate poverty and protect natural resources. Furthermore, given the centrality of poverty alleviation to the sustainable development agenda, the findings of this research contribute to wider social scientific debate, practical development discourse and, as such, to Vietnam’s society as a whole. This research concludes that only by valuing the perspectives of poor people can meaningful approaches to alleviating poverty through tourism become clearer and more likely to succeed.

Klimato kaita yra prioritetinė pasaulio, Europos Sąjungos ir atskirų šalių problema. Į klimato kaitos iššūkius atsakyti galima dviem būdais – mažinant paklausą ir didinant naujų bei atsinaujinančių energijos šaltinių santykinę dalį. Tyrimų duomenimis namų ūkiuose slypi didelis energijos taupymo potencialas. Efektyvus energijos vartojimas vestų į klimato kaitos įsipareigojimų įgyvendinimą, taipogi galėtų apčiuopiamai mažinti namų ūkių sąskaitas už energiją, tiesiogiai gerinti kasdienį kiekvieno piliečio gyvenimą Darbo tikslas- įvertinti klimato kaitos švelninimo priemones namų ūkiuose Lietuvoje Darbo tikslui pasiekti buvo išsikelti tokie uždaviniai:  Apžvelgti klimato kaitos švelninimo politikos įgyvendinimą tarptautiniu lygmeniu.  Nustatyti namų ūkių svarbą klimato kaitos švelninimo politikos tikslų įgyvendinimui.  Pateikti Lietuvos šiltnamio dujų emisijų ir galutinės energijos suvartojimo namų ūkių sektoriuje lyginamąją analizę;  Išnagrinėti šiltnamio dujų emisijų namų ūkiuose mažinimo priemones Lietuvoje ir palyginti su taikomomis kitose šalyse;  Ištirti šiltnamio dujų mažinimo galimybes Lietuvos namų ūkiuose, keičiant gyventojų įpročius ir taupant energiją. Atlikus energijos suvartojimo, šiltnamio efektą sukeliančių dujų emisijų kitimo ir klimato kaitos švelninimo politikos Lietuvoje analizę, gavome, kad Lietuvoje namų ūkiuose yra suvartojama sąlyginai daug galutinės energijos ir išskiriama šiltnamio dujų. Atlikus empirinį tyrimą... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Climate change is considered as one of the most important problems in the whole world, EU and separate countries. The challenges of climate change can be overcome in two ways – decreasing the demand and increasing the part of the energy that is created by new and renewable energy recourses. According to the previous researches, there is a great energy saving potential in the households. This means that more efficient energy consumption would lead to better implementation of climate change requirements as well as smaller households’ energy bills and thus improvement of daily life of every person. The object of the paper – Climate change mitigation measures in households. The purpose of the paper – To assess climate change mitigation measures in Lithuanian households. Objectives of the paper:  To give the overview of implementation of climate change mitigation policies in the international aspect.  To determine the influence of households in implementing climate change mitigation policy.  To provide the comparative analysis of GHG emissions and energy consumption in Lithuanian households.  To analyze the measures for mitigating GHG emissions in Lithuania and to compare it with other measures used in different countries.  To estimate the possibilities of mitigating GHG emissions in Lithuanian households while changing their behavior and saving more energy. After conducting the analysis of energy consumption, GHG emissions pattern and... [to full text]

Context Current care guidelines recommend that pregnant women receive advice about the important health behaviours which may influence pregnancy outcomes. These behaviours are associated with pregnancy-related and long-term health outcomes for both the mother and infant. Poor pregnancy outcomes can result in increased costs of health care delivery through longer hospital admissions and intensive care admissions. Although provision of behavioural advice to pregnant women is recommended, most educational materials provide limited and inconsistent information. There is a clear need for widespread delivery of evidence-based information and skill-development strategies to influence pregnancy health behaviours. One avenue of information is via the pregnancy health records (PHRs) provided by maternity health services that women carry for the duration of their pregnancy. Objective My research sought to develop, implement, and evaluate a handheld health record for use in pregnancy (the “Pregnancy Pocketbook”) in an urban population of women with a high proportion of disadvantaged women. Study Overview My research comprised two phases, a development phase, and an implementation and evaluation phase. I identified specific behaviours (cigarette smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity) requiring intervention and reviewed evidence-based frameworks, behaviour change theories, and guidelines for the presentation of written information to support behaviour change. I developed and refined the Pregnancy Pocketbook through a number of studies. Studies 1, 2, and 3 The Pregnancy Pocketbook was refined through a qualitative evaluation of a PHR enhanced with behaviour change tools (Study 1), focus groups held with women from the target group to investigate PHR preferences (Study 2), and strategy testing of the Pregnancy Pocketbook activities with women from the target group (Study 3). The focus group results combined with those from the qualitative evaluation suggested the Pregnancy Pocketbook should be a women-held, woman-focussed resource providing essential and comprehensive information on recommended pregnancy health behaviours. It should include tools to facilitate appropriate behaviour changes and tools for women to monitor pregnancy progress and record questions and notes to facilitate communication with their health carers. Strategy testing demonstrated that the Pregnancy Pocketbook content, screening questions and activities were well received by a small sample of women, with minor changes made following testing to improve the understanding and usability of the various sections of the Pregnancy Pocketbook. The final intervention (Study 4) The final version of the Pregnancy Pocketbook was a 73-page interactive resource, designed to be used according to the 5As self-management framework (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange), with screening tools, information, goal setting and self-monitoring activities with information for further referral for greater support when required. It was presented in an A5 plastic ring-bound folder, with dividers, labelled ‘Your health goals’, ‘Tracking your health goals’, ‘Your first antenatal visit’, ‘Pregnancy progress’, ‘Birth summary’, ‘Glossary’, and ‘Emergency contacts and general numbers’. The Pocketbook was evaluated using a quasi-experimental two-group design. Women were recruited from two antenatal clinics within the same health service district. Women received the PP during their first antenatal clinic appointment in one clinic (PP:n = 163) and women in the other clinic received usual care (UC: n = 141). Smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity were assessed at baseline (service entry), 12-weeks post-service-entry and 24 weeks post-service-entry. Behaviour-specific self-efficacy was also measured during pregnancy. I also assessed the PP implementation process through adherence of the staff and organisation to planned implementation processes. Results At 12-weeks post-service-entry, a significantly greater proportion of women in the Pregnancy Pocketbook (PP) group had stopped smoking (7.6% vs 2.1%), compared with the Usual Care (UC) group, p <0.05. There was a net (non-significant) increase of 5% more women meeting physical activity guidelines (PP: 1.2% increase vs. UC: 3.5% decrease) and a net 20 minute difference in median minutes of physical activity (PP: 10 minute increase vs. UC: 10 minute decrease). Both groups increased their fruit and vegetable intake. Approximately two-thirds of women reported receiving the Pregnancy Pocketbook, many without introduction or explanation. Few women completed sections of the Pregnancy Pocketbook that required health professional assistance, suggesting minimal interaction about the resource between health staff and the women in their care. Conclusion and future recommendations There were low levels of adherence to health behaviour recommendations for pregnancy in this sample. The Pregnancy Pocketbook produced significant effects on smoking cessation, even under limited delivery conditions. A refocus of antenatal care towards primary prevention is required to more consistently provide essential health information and behaviour change tools for improved maternal and infant pregnancy health outcomes. Future studies must include process evaluations and apply the theory of dissemination to enhance uptake of the interventions.

Background: Self-efficacy is an important determinant of physical activity. Yet it remains unclear which behaviour change techniques (BCTs) are most effective at changing self-efficacy for physical activity. This PhD thesis aimed to explore issues surrounding which individual BCTs and clusters of BCTs that are most effective in initiating and maintaining changes in self-efficacy and physical activity behaviour across different adult populations through a systematic review with meta-analysis. This thesis consists of three linked papers which examined: 1) the individual and clusters of BCTs that are most effective in initiating and maintaining changes in self-efficacy and physical activity behaviour across all adult populations, 2) the individual BCTs which are effective in initiating self-efficacy and physical activity in two clinical samples (hypertension or heart disease, and pain or arthritis), and 3) the extent of theory use in interventions and examination of BCT use across theories. Methods: One hundred and eighty randomised trials which reported changes in self-efficacy were included into the review. Intervention content was reliably coded using the BCT Taxonomy v1 by two independent coders. From the 180 randomised trials, 204 comparisons were identified for the meta-analyses and moderator analyses. Meta-regressions examined whether the presence and absence of individual BCTs and intervention characteristics were associated with effect size changes for self-efficacy and physical activity. Chi-square analyses were conducted in Journal Article Three to examine for differences in BCT use across theories. Results: In Journal Article One, lack of meaningful clustering of BCTs was found. Interventions had small but significant effects on self-efficacy for the initiation of physical activity (d=0.26; 95%CI: [0.21, 0.31]) and physical activity (d= 0.21; 95%CI: [0.17, 0.26]) across all adult populations. Small effects were also found for the maintenance of physical activity self-efficacy behaviour, and these were non-statistically significant. In Journal Article Two, the interventions had small to medium sized significant effects on the initiation of physical activity self-efficacy and behaviour in hypertension or heart disease, and pain or arthritis samples. Few BCTs were found to moderate intervention effects on self-efficacy or physical activity in either clinical sample. In Journal Article Three, theory was not used extensively in interventions. Differences in the use of BCTs were found across theories, some of which mapped onto the constructs of the adopted theoretical frameworks. Conclusions: It seems that there are no specific sets of BCTs that are effective for changing self-efficacy and physical activity across all adult populations. In addition to BCTs, there needs to be further research into how communication styles and delivery characteristics can influence intervention effectiveness. It is also important to understand how BCTs and theory can be used optimally together, as there appears to be discrepancy between what theories proposes to be effective and what empirical evidence generated by this review suggests may be effective.

With the introduction of the technological age, increasing mechanisation has led to labour saving devices which have all-but engineered physical activity out of our lives and sedentary behaviour has now become the default behaviour during waking hours. Interventions that previously focused on improving levels of physical activity are now attempting to concurrently increase levels of physical activity and decrease time spent in sedentary behaviour. One method that has shown promise in interventions to increase physical activity and healthy eating in adults is the behaviour change technique of self-monitoring. There is now a robust set of literature indicating self-monitoring as the most promising behaviour change technique in this area. Self-monitoring is tied inherently into the recent rise in wearable technology. These new devices have the ability to track a variety of behavioural and physiological parameters and immediately make the information returnable to the user via connected mobile applications. The potential pervasive nature of these technologies and their use of robust behaviour change techniques could make them a useful tool in interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour. Therefore the overall purpose of this three study dissertation was to identify and validate technology that can self-monitor sedentary behaviour and to determine its feasibility in reducing sedentary behaviour. Study 1 Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the characteristics and measurement properties of currently available self-monitoring devices for sedentary behaviour and/or physical activity. Methods: To identify technologies, four scientific databases were systematically searched using key terms related to behaviour, measurement, and population. Articles published through October 2015 were identified. To identify technologies from the consumer electronic sector, systematic searches of three Internet search engines were also performed through to October 1st, 2015. Results: The initial database searches identified 46 devices and the Internet search engines identified 100 devices yielding a total of 146 technologies. Of these, 64 were further removed because they were currently unavailable for purchase or there was no evidence that they were designed for, had been used in, or could readily be modified for self-monitoring purposes. The remaining 82 technologies were included in this review (73 devices self-monitored physical activity, 9 devices self-monitored sedentary time). Of the 82 devices included, this review identified no published articles in which these devices were used for the purpose of self-monitoring physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour; however, a number of technologies were found via Internet searches that matched the criteria for self-monitoring and provided immediate feedback on physical activity (ActiGraph Link, Microsoft Band, and Garmin Vivofit) and sedentary behaviour (activPAL VT, the LumoBack, and Darma). Conclusions: There are a large number of devices that self-monitor physical activity; however, there is a greater need for the development of tools to self-monitor sedentary time. The novelty of these devices means they have yet to be used in behaviour change interventions, although the growing field of wearable technology may facilitate this to change. Study 2 Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the criterion and convergent validity of the LumoBack as a measure of sedentary behaviour compared to direct observation, the ActiGraph wGT3X+ and the activPAL under laboratory and free-living conditions in a sample of healthy adults. Methods: In the laboratory experiment, 34 participants wore a LumoBack, ActiGraph and activPAL monitor and were put through seven different sitting conditions. In the free-living experiment, a sub-sample of 12 participants wore the LumoBack, ActiGraph and activPAL monitor for seven days. Validity were assessed using Bland-Altman plots, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). T-test and Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance were also used to determine any significant difference in measured behaviours. Results: In the laboratory setting, the LumoBack had a mean bias of 76.2, 72.1 and -92.3 seconds when compared to direct observation, ActiGraph and activPAL, respectively, whilst MAPE was less than 4%. Furthermore, the ICC was 0.82 compared to the ActiGraph and 0.73 compared to the activPAL. In the free-living experiment, mean bias was -4.64, 8.90 and 2.34 seconds when compared to the activPAL for sedentary behaviour, standing time and stepping time respectively. Mean bias was -38.44 minutes when compared to the ActiGraph for sedentary time. MAPE for all behaviours were < 9%, and the ICC were all > 0.75. Conclusion: The LumoBack has acceptable validity and reliability as a measure of sedentary behaviour. Study 3 Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the use of the LumoBack as a behaviour change tool to reduce sedentary behaviour in adults. Methods: Forty-two participants (≥25 years) who had an iPhone 4S or later model wore the LumoBack without any feedback for one week for baseline measures of behaviour. Participants then wore the LumoBack for a further five weeks whilst receiving feedback on sedentary behaviour via a sedentary vibration from the device and feedback on the mobile application. Sedentary behaviour, standing time, and stepping time were objectively assessed using the LumoBack. Differences in behaviour were determined between baseline, week 1 and week 5. Participant engagement with the LumoBack was determined using Mobile app analytics software. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in behaviour between baseline and the LumoBack intervention period (p > 0.05). Participants engaged most with the Steps card on the LumoBack app with peaks in engagement seen at week 5. Conclusion: This study indicates that using the LumoBack on its own was not effective in reducing sedentary behaviour in adults. Self-monitoring and feedback may need to be combined with other behaviour change strategies such as environmental restructuring to be effective. General Conclusion This thesis found that there are currently an abundance of technologies which self-monitors physical activity but a lack of devices which measuring sedentary behaviour. One such device, the LumoBack, has shown to have acceptable validity as a measure of sedentary behaviour. Whilst the use of the LumoBack as a behaviour change tool did not elicit any significant changes, its ability to be a pervasive behavioural intervention and the use of user-defined nudging can make the LumoBack, and other similar low cost, valid objective sedentary behaviour self-monitors key components in multi-faceted interventions.