THE MEANING OF HEALTH-RELATED E-MAIL MESSAGING AT THE
WORKSITE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Open Access
Author:
Aumiller, Betsy Bahorik
Graduate Program:
Adult Education
Degree:
Doctor of Education
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
December 08, 2008
Committee Members:
Dr Edward Taylor, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Edward W Taylor, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Elizabeth Jean Tisdell, Committee Member Samuel William Monismith, Committee Member S. Shyam Sundar, Committee Member Ian E Baptiste, Committee Member
This qualitative inquiry was undertaken to explore how employees at two worksites made meaning of health-related e-mail messages in relation to health behavior change. Informed by both health behavior change theoretical frameworks and transformational leaning, this study investigated the ways that participants made meaning of message content, structure, and appearance as a part of the electronic mail modality and within the context of a corporate health promotion program. Seeking to explain the factors influencing individuals’ health behavior, this research examines how change occurs over time and how adult learning leads to desired health outcomes. The findings have implications for adult leaning and health education, two fields that offer insight into how adults make sense of electronic messaging in relation to their health habits, worksite setting, and potentially other venues.