An online, comparative effectiveness trial of mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) versus solution-focused coaching (SFC) questions

Mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) and solution-focused coaching (SFC) questions are self-coaching interventions that share similar theoretical constructs and stimulate constructive thinking in terms of idealised future outcomes and realistic appraisal of one's current situation. However, no research has compared the efficacy of these two self-coaching methodologies. This experiment aimed to compare the effect of MCII and SFC questions on goal-directed outcomes. We conducted an online experiment where 113 undergraduates described an important personal problem, completed pre-intervention assessment, performed a brief computer-guided intervention of MCII or SFC questions, and then completed post-intervention assessment. We found that MCII and SFC questions increased perceived goal progression, self-efficacy, and positive affect, and decreased negative affect, to a similar extent. Levels of problem clarity and solution-focused thinking were comparable at post-intervention between MCII and SFC questions. We observed two main differences between the interventions: (a) self-insight was higher following MCII than SFC questions and (b) expectations of success increased from SFC questions but remained unchanged from MCII. Our results suggest that coaches seeking to integrate evidence-based self-coaching methodologies into their coaching practice have scope to recommend either MCII or SFC questions as take-home exercises to help their clients maximise goal attainment.