Intention-behavior Gap Research Articles

A social network linking rural and peri-urban agricultural production to the city of Rome: A case study

Many citizens, despite significant changes in the levels of awareness and responsibility towards environmental, ethical and social issues, remain ‘loyal’ to their lifestyles and their purchasing decisions. This is a phenomenon known as a value-action gap, which occurs when the values and intentions of an individual are not related to his actions. However, the individual characteristics of consumers can be ‘shaken’ by social and collective actions. Alternative Food Networks (AFNs), and among these the short supply chains, interpret different degrees of sustainability and aim to improve the coordination of supply and to involve consumers as active players in the local, typical and organic food system. An example is the ‘Kalulu’ network, on which this contribution focuses, a web platform which shortens the supply chain and transfers on a large scale the mechanism of Purchasing Group. The authors believe that this model, which operates in the rural and urban territory of the Metropolitan City of Rome, is able to bring well-being to the farm and the territory, on the one hand, and to bridge the value-action gap in individuals and families, on the other. Public support for this type of AFN - which develops networks of socio-economic relationships between producers and consumers and communicates the sharing of values - and the involvement of all local community stakeholders could generate a model of alternative governance of rural and peri-urban areas with typical products towards sustainable development. In fact, from the analysis carried out, it emerges that the platform creates a producer/consumer local market which recognizes a fair and sustainable exchange value, which goes beyond the price/quality ratio. In this commercialization model consumers increase their awareness and responsibility of consumption choices in respect of seasonality, traditions and natural organic cycles, reducing waste; while the constancy of purchasing and the reduction of intermediaries guarantee economic needs also for small farmers. This innovative and efficient model of short supply chain, contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and the protection of the environment, for the benefit of the community.

How we are misinterpreting physical activity intention \u2013 behavior relations and what to do about it

BackgroundStudies of the physical activity intention-behavior gap, and factors that may moderate the gap (e.g., habit, perceived behavioral control), can inform physical activity promotion efforts. Yet, these studies typically apply linear modeling procedures, and so conclusions rely on linearity and homoscedasticity assumptions, which may not hold.MethodsWe modelled and plotted physical activity intention-behavior associations and the moderation effects of habit using simulated data based on (a) normal distributions with no shared variance, (b) correlated parameters with normal distribution, and (c) realistically correlated and non-normally distributed parameters.ResultsIn the uncorrelated and correlated normal distribution datasets, no violations were unmet, and the moderation effects applied across the entire data range. However, because in the realistic dataset, few people who engaged in physical activity behavior had low intention scores, the intention-behavior association was non-linear, resulting in inflated linear moderation estimations of habit. This finding was replicated when tested with intention-behavior moderation of perceived behavioral control.ConclusionsComparisons of the three scenarios illustrated how an identical correlation coefficient may mask different types of intention-behavior association and moderation effects. These findings highlight the risk of misinterpreting tests of the intention-behavior gap and its moderators for physical activity due to unfounded statistical assumptions. The previously well-documented moderating effects of habit, whereby the impact of intention on behavior weakens as habit strength increases, may be based on statistical byproducts of unmet model assumptions.

Fertility preservation knowledge, attitudes and intentions among children by proxy and adolescents with cancer

The current study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and intentions in relation to fertility preservation among children, by proxy, and adolescents with cancer. Although fertility preservation options have been developed to mitigate the adverse long-term effects of life-saving cancer treatment on fertility, fertility is difficult for children and adolescents to conceptualize, especially when they face a cancer diagnosis. This was a descriptive, semi-quantitative analysis. Adolescents and parents of children or adolescents within 6 months of a cancer diagnosis and undergoing gonadotoxic treatment were invited to participate. Seventy-one families completed and returned the study's questionnaire (91 questionnaires) over a period of 26 months. The vast majority of participants were aware of the gonadotoxic effects of cancer treatment (85%) and had positive attitudes towards fertility preservation (>90%), but only a portion of them (20%) were willing to take action towards this goal. Although adolescent-parent pairs had similar attitudes towards fertility preservation, adolescents tended to be more sceptical about experimental fertility preservation options. Male post-pubertal cancer patients were more likely to be offered fertility preservation counselling or referral to a specialist in comparison to their younger and female counterparts. Fertility preservation care has advanced but there are still gender and age differences in counselling and treatment initiation in the paediatric and adolescent cancer population. Interventions to improve provider-patient-parent communication regarding fertility preservation and to help patients address the observed intention-behaviour gap in relation to fertility preservation options are needed.

Hybridizing consumer behavioural approaches on agrifood markets: Attitudes, judgements and choices

The attitudinal approach, represented by the Theory of Reasoned Action and, subsequent, Theory of Planned Behaviour, and the judgements and choices – also called decision – approach, rendered by the Classical Utility Economic Theory, are the two mainstream frameworks to explain consumer behaviour. The former explains consumer behaviour based on beliefs and behavioural intentions, and the latter on products’ attributes and prices. Both are criticized by having drawbacks, which may limit their explicative and predictive power, such as the attitude-behaviour or intention-behaviour gap in the former, and both the divergence between monetary assessment and predicted utility as well as the failures to maximize the utility of the choices in the latter. Our aim was to assess the potentiality of a hybrid approach which integrates instruments from both theories in order to unravel consumer behaviour in agri-food markets. The empirical research was performed using a daily agri-food product under volitional control, olive oil, and variance-based structural equation modelling by means of the Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique, collecting data from consumers in Southern Spain. The results show there are key factors from both approaches such as attitude, expected outcomes, and socioeconomic features, which makes us conclude that it is necessary to move forward on the convergence and integration of different theories. Indeed, testable knowledge must be produced which has meaningful implications for predicting behaviours in consumption.

Tailoring persuasive technology: A systematic review of literature of self-schema theory and transformative learning theory in persuasive technology context

Groundwork for understanding persuasion in human behaviour change through the human-computer environment has been laid by the socio-psychological paradigm and theories, and an acknowledged key element in behaviour change is the role of attitude in the intention-behaviour gap. The said gap is explored in the present paper by means of a systematic literature review of how theories of self-schema and transformative learning have been used thus far in researching behaviour change support systems. Tailoring content and persuasive strategies to some end-user traits is an acknowledged avenue in the persuasive technology field, but what identifiable traits beyond needs, interests, personality, or context can be identified and used in the pursuit of systems that are increasingly more relevant to their users? Various databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles, and the research contributions were analysed against the Persuasive Systems Design Model and Outcome/Change Design Matrix. The results show that neither theory has been used extensively for researching behaviour change support systems; yet, a closer look at the records offers feasible approaches for addressing the intention-behaviour gap. Both SST and TLT emerge as worth investigating as regards identifying and influencing attitude and self-perception level factors in persuasion.

Using the Norm Activation Model to Predict the Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Public Servants at the Central and Local Governments in Taiwan

An understanding of the environmental value-action gap between public servants at the central and local governments is essential for the effective implementation of environmental policies, which is limited in the extant literature. This study has adopted the norm activation model to explore the pro-environmental behaviors of public servants at the central and local governments in Taiwan. A total of 7567 valid questionnaires were collected, and significant differences were evident between public servants at the central (n = 3400) and local (n = 4167) governments in personal norms, awareness of consequences, ascription of responsibility, and pro-environmental behaviors. Findings revealed that personal norms were the key factors predicting pro-environmental behaviors of public servants at both the central and local governments. Results also indicated that the awareness of consequences by public servants at the central government had a direct effect on their pro-environmental behaviors, which in turn had a significant effect on their ascription of responsibility. In contrast, awareness of consequences by public servants at the local government had no significant direct effect on their pro-environmental behaviors and had only a weak positive effect on their ascription of responsibility.

Green Stimuli Characteristics and Green Self-Identity Towards Ethically Minded Consumption Behavior with Special Reference to Mediating Effect of Positive and Negative Emotions

Research studies related to ethical consumerism has been gaining increasing attention in the last decade due to growing importance with environmental pollution. Research studies pointed out a gap between ethical consumers’ behavior and intention which is common in Sri Lanka as well. Hence the study used emotions and self-identity as two key drivers which assist in exploring the intention-behavior gap that has not been researched so far. Therefore the research problem addressed is “whether the positive and negative emotions aroused as a result of consumer subjective evaluation to stimuli, impact on the ethically minded consumption behavior?”.
 
 The study focused only on environmental friendly electrical household appliances and the population is the academics and professionals who reside Gampaha and Colombo suburbs and who bought environmental friendly electrical household appliances within the last one year of duration. The unit of analysis is individual consumers and the convenience sampling method used. 200 individual respondents contributed to the study and the data collection was done through a self-administered questionnaire. The study has used Smart PLS 3.2 software and the results showed that the green stimuli characteristics and green self-identity significantly influence ethically minded consumer behavior and only positive emotions act as a significant mediator. Most importantly if the consumer’s perceived effectiveness is high, despite the presence of emotions ethically minded consumer behavior will be triggered more. In conclusion, marketers have to use positive emotions when creating the stimuli and should give more priority for assuring the individuals small step for protecting the environment.

Exploring the Value–Action Gap through Shared Values, Capabilities and Deforestation Behaviours in Guatemala

SummaryUnderstanding drivers of deforestation is essential for developing any successful intervention to reduce forest degradation or loss, yet there remains relatively little consensus or clarity on how drivers should be identified and classified. To capture the full range of values and mediating factors that may contribute to land-use behaviours, an approach derived from a shared values perspective that includes a range of values associated with whole landscapes and ecosystems is required. We developed a model that combines behavioural theory with the Capability Approach as a conceptual framework through which to investigate the value–action gap. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of Likert-scale responses to belief statements in order to identify land users’ shared values in the Sarstún Motagua region of Guatemala. We then qualify and quantify the role of capabilities in mediating between the shared values of different cultural groups of land users (Q’eqchi Maya and Ladinos) by comparing their factor scores with their self-reported forest cover change behaviours. Our results indicate that Maya and Ladinos share a set of values, but hold different value orientations that predict their behavioural intentions. We find that their different value orientations reflect behavioural intentions, but an understanding of the capabilities available to different groups is also necessary to fill the value–action gap. These findings have implications for behavioural theory, providing empirical links between shared values, capabilities and behaviour and identification of the role of value orientations, as well as demonstrating a useful approach for decision-makers seeking to understand drivers of change at landscape and whole-ecosystem levels.

Is Voluntary Product Stewardship for E-Waste Working in New Zealand? A Whangarei Case Study

New Zealand currently manages its annually-generated 99,000 tonnes of e-waste via voluntary product stewardship schemes. Limited data is available to determine the success of this approach. This lack of data is cited as the logic preventing the declaration of e-waste as a priority product by the Minister for the Environment which would trigger the enforcement of mandatory product stewardship. This case study involved an online survey of 264 Whangarei District householders asking questions about e-waste creation and management, as well as analyses of local services, and local and national policy. It found that only 1.8% of the estimated e-waste created in the district is recycled by municipal services, with the ‘cost to recycle’ and ‘a lack of knowledge’ presenting barriers to engagement in these services. The ‘lack of ability to repair/the cost to repair’ was found to be the most significant driver for e-waste creation. The adoption of mandatory product stewardship for e-waste was recommended to ensure robust and transparent data collection, see recycling services become more accessible, and raise awareness of these services, thus reducing the value-action gap. Mandatory e-waste management would also impact product design to ensure affordable repair-ability, further supporting a circular economy for electronic goods.

Stakeholder perceptions of marine plastic waste management in the United Kingdom

Plastic pollution is a significant threat to the marine environment. The problem has become subject to increasing scientific scrutiny, media campaigning and growing public awareness. This has stimulated policy-makers to introduce changes aiming to reduce plastic consumption and production. However, in order to arrive at socially acceptable policy and behaviour change solutions, we need to better understand the diverse array of stakeholder perspectives on ocean plastic pollution, economic policy and consumption responsibilities. We employ a Q-methodological study to research key stakeholder viewpoints from ENGO, government agency, plastic manufacturer, retailer, research and citizen representatives in the UK. We find four emergent types of perspectives surrounding this topic, labelled: a) socio-cultural visibility and responsibility, b) dragons of inaction – disempowerment and defeatism, c) value-action gap, d) refuting retailer responsibility. We also identify a clear consensus that current and proposed government policy is not radical enough – the focus needs to move beyond single-product taxes and levies on disposal items (e.g. bags, coffee cups), to a deeper reflection about public awareness raising and education, defining waste responsibilities more clearly, and working to change the habits and unsustainable practices of consumers in the face of public apathy and a resistant retail environment.

“I will fast … tomorrow”: Intentions to restrict eating and actual restriction in daily life and their person-level predictors

ObjectiveDietary restraint is a common, yet controversial practice to tackle overweight. Yet, despite good intentions to reduce food intake, most restraint-based diets fail to produce long term weight loss. A better understanding of the naturalistic course of daily dieting intentions and their effectiveness in guiding subsequent eating behavior are therefore needed. MethodIn two studies, participants (n = 49 and n = 59) reported both their state intention to restrict eating on the next day, as well as their actual restriction on that day via smartphone-based evening reports of 12 and 10 days, respectively. Intention-behavior gap scores were calculated as differences between intention at t1 (e.g. evening intention Monday for restriction Tuesday) and restriction at t2 (evening report of actual restraint on Tuesday). Restriction-related trait questionnaires served as predictors of general intention or restriction level, whereas several trait-level disinhibiting eating style questionnaires served as predictors for intention-behavior gaps (difference scores). ResultsDaily intentions to restrict were rated higher than the daily actual restrictive behavior. Participants with higher scores on restriction-related questionnaires (restrained eating, dieting, lower intuitive eating) showed higher levels of daily state intention and restriction. Larger state intention-behavior gaps, by contrast, were seen in participants scoring high on trait-level disinhibiting eating styles (emotional eating, stress eating and food craving). DiscussionThe results point to potential risk factors of diet failure in everyday life: emotional, stress eating, and food craving are disinhibiting traits that seem to increase intention-behavior gaps. These findings can inform individualized weight-loss interventions: individuals with disinhibiting traits might need additional guidance to avoid potentially frustrating diet failures.

Physical activity: the relative associations with cognitive and affective risk beliefs

Objective: The role of affectively oriented risk beliefs in explaining health behaviors has not been examined in the context of physical activity or in diverse study populations. We evaluated whether affective risk beliefs account for unique variance in physical activity intentions and behavior above and beyond that accounted for by cognitive risk beliefs.Design: A cross-sectional survey of socio-demographically diverse US residents (N = 835; 46.4% no college training; 46.7% minority racial/ethnic ancestry; 42.6% men).Main outcome measures: Physical activity intentions and behavior.Results: Hierarchical linear regressions showed that affective risk beliefs accounted for variance in physical activity intentions beyond that predicted by socio-demographics and cognitive risk beliefs (F-change ps<.001). Specifically, intentions were higher among people with higher anticipated regret (ps<.001) and with higher absolute feelings of risk (ps<.05) or worry (ps<.05). There was an indirect relationship between perceived absolute likelihood and intentions through anticipated regret and feelings of risk. Neither cognitive nor affective risk beliefs accounted for variance in physical activity behavior (F-change ps>.05), but unsurprisingly, behavior was positively associated with physical activity intentions (p<.001).Conclusion: Future interventions could target affective risk beliefs—particularly anticipated regret—to increase intentions, and then add other intervention components to bridge the intention–behavior gap.

Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis: Knowing is Not Enough-The Crucial Role of Intention Formation and Intention Realization.

A large body of evidence supports the notion that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) benefit from physical exercise. However, this research-based recommendation has been insufficiently translated into practice. In this commentary article, we highlight the psychological evidence for the intention–behaviour gap and discuss evidence-based recommendations for bridging this gap, with the aim to change behaviour in MS patients. It is accepted that psychological research distinguishes intention formation from intention realization and that these processes have to be considered when the aim is to enhance physical activity in MS patients. We suggest that the transtheoretical model of behaviour change is a useful and general framework for examining the process of intention formation and that a MS-specific perspective is more useful for realizing exercise intention. MS patients are faced with severe self-control demands that hinder the realization of sport and exercise goals. Specifically, MS patients experience fatigue, which imposes substantial self-control demands. Here, we suggest implementation intention as an effective tool that aids in counteracting deficits in intention realization (getting started and staying on track). We also note that research knowledge is not sufficiently translated into clinical practice. Based on an interdisciplinary approach we recommend that therapists of MS patients should be more aware of psychological theories of health behaviour change and that they should use these to improve and optimize treatment approaches.

Bridging the electricity saving intention-behavior gap: A German field experiment with a smart meter website

We investigated whether a combination of prompted commitment, implementation information, and guided process monitoring would facilitate bridging the intention-behavior gap in electricity saving. In a neighborhood of new housing, user interaction with a smart meter web portal was analyzed and the effect of portal usage on electricity consumption was evaluated. The information architecture of the web portal was designed following principles derived from a stage model of self-regulated behavioral change. The design focused on prompting commitment to saving tips and supporting their implementation. Users that committed themselves to at least one saving tip were higher in pre-baseline goal intention than users that did not. The act of committing to saving tips, together with continued self-monitoring of the process of tip implementation, was predictive of a significant saving effect. Thus, for motivated users techniques inducing commitment to action and guiding towards implementation of the action plan seem effective in generating electricity savings.

“Green cannibalism” or an “organic inside job”? Empirical insights into the rivalry of ethical grocery types

AbstractDespite having favorable purchase intentions toward organic groceries, the respective purchase behavior falls often short. This so‐called intention–behavior gap is investigated by exploring the impact of competing ethical products fulfilling green consumption motives (“green fit”) as well or lacking credibility of organic groceries on organic purchase behavior. The first two studies (n 1 = 225; n 2 = 321) assessing actual and reported purchase behavior are testing the impact of perceived substitutability of local and fair trade alternatives compared with organic groceries. A third study ( n 3 = 145) examines the impact of food miles and packaging on perceived product quality and credibility as possible reasons for a lacking “green fit” of organic groceries in terms of an experimental design. Local (fair trade) and organic groceries are perceived as substitute (complementary) alternatives. Additionally, local (organic) “green fit” impedes (enhances) the transformation from organic intentions into a respective purchase behavior. Wrapped organic produces with high food miles are linked to lower quality and credibility perceptions, reducing organic sales rates in favor of local groceries.

On the importance of self-control strength for regular physical activity

ObjectivesPhysical activity intentions do not automatically lead to physical activity behavior, indicating that there are other (psychological) factors involved. In the present study, we tested the assumption that self-control strength is required to bridge the intention-behavior gap in terms of initial and weekly intentions. DesignA total of N = 259 individuals, who registered for a weekly university sports course, were followed for 13 weeks. MethodsAt baseline, trait self-control strength as well as the intention to take part in the respective sports course on a regular basis were measured. Then, we registered weekly participation and asked the participants after each training session to report their intention to show up at next week’s training session. ResultsDespite very high baseline as well as weekly exercise intentions, the participation rate dropped considerably over time, indicating a large intention-behavior gap. The association of within-person fluctuations in weekly intentions and actual participation was moderated by self-control: Only in individuals with high levels of trait self-control strength stronger intentions were associated with a higher chance of actual re-attendance. Baseline intention was also associated with participation but not moderated by self-control. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that high levels of self-control strength are beneficial in order to translate short-term intentions into actual behavior. Practical implications on how to improve self-control are discussed.

Exploring young adult consumers’ sustainable clothing consumption intention-behavior gap: A Behavioral Reasoning Theory perspective

Clothing overconsumption is a growing global phenomenon with serious effects on the environment and society. Huge amounts of textile waste are ending up U.S. landfills due to unsustainable clothing consumption patterns. With the conceptual underpinnings of Behavioral Reasoning Theory, the purpose of this study was to explore sustainable clothing consumption behaviors (SCCBs) that young consumers were most and least likely to engage in and to understand specific reasons for their decisions to engage in a variety of SCCBs. The study used qualitative method of inquiry and conducted six focus groups with forty-one young adult consumers. Data was transcribed and analyzed to develop specific reasons that the participants attached to engage or not engage in SCCBs. Qualitative analyses revealed that participants’ reasons for engaging in SCCBs included perceived value, sustainability commitment, uniqueness, acquisition from known sources and lifestyle changes. Specific reasons for not engaging in SCCBs included perceived lack of variety/style, budget constraints, skepticism, lack of knowledge/skills, emotions attached to consumption, perceived lack of availability and consumers’ self-indulgent behavior. The findings of this study provide important implications for public policy makers and businesses to integrate and promote circularity in the fashion industry. The study also emphasizes the important role consumers’ play in extending clothing lifecycle.

Application of the Multi-Process Action Control Framework to Understand Parental Support of Child and Youth Physical Activity, Sleep, and Screen Time Behaviours.

The purpose of this paper was to apply a framework designed to evaluate the intention-behaviour gap, known as multi-process action control (M-PAC), to understand parental support for the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth. Parents (N=1,208) of children 5-17years of age, completed measures of reflective (attitudes, perceived control), regulatory (planning), and reflexive (identity, habit) processes as well as intention and support behaviours. Parents had significantly (p<.01) higher intentions in descending order to support sleep (86%), reduce screen time (62%), or support physical activity (65% to 61%). Translation of these intentions into behaviour was also significantly (p<.01) higher in a descending pattern for sleep support (80%), screen time reduction (68%), and physical activity support (56% to 31%). Congruent with M-PAC, a discriminant function analysis of the results showed that the translation of parental support intentions into behaviour was associated with a combination of reflective, regulatory, and reflexive antecedents but these varied by the behaviours. The majority of parents have positive intentions to support child and youth health behaviours, yet many fail to enact this support. Translation of intention into action was associated with attitudinal aspects, control over support, self-regulation skills, and parental habits and identity.

A successive pro-environmental behaviour framework

This paper presents a successive pro-environmental behaviour framework based on four key models that develop a common argument that, in instances where communicating information is insufficient for triggering and maintaining changes in behaviour, other strategies are needed. These four models are the ‘theory of planned behaviour’ framework of Ajzen and Fishbein, a model of pro-environmental behaviour by Kollmuss and Agyeman, a conceptual model for recycling behaviour change by Valle et al. and Stern's value-belief-norm model. The resultant pro-environmental behaviour framework has been used as an analytical tool to inform the methodology, and for carrying out the empirical work to investigate re-use behaviour at the organisational level in the UK. The framework is developed by analysing broad areas of argument in relation to pro-environmental behaviour: how it is developed and how it can be maintained. This paper presents the combination of snowballing and an inductive approach as appropriate methods utilised, respectively, for the selection of studies and the development of the successive pro-environmental framework. The successive pro-environmental framework is called communication, engagement/action, behavioural maintenance and avoidance of the value action gap, or CEBA for short.

Promoting active school travel in elementary schools: A regional case study of the school travel planning intervention

IntroductionActive school travel (AST) can be a viable way to increase children's low levels of daily physical activity by promoting opportunities to walk and wheel. To promote AST in Canada, School Travel Plan (STP) programs have been implemented throughout the country. The STP program is a comprehensive 2-year intervention that is facilitated by a committee of community and school partners who implement education, encouragement, enforcement, and engineering initiatives at their school to support AST. MethodsThis study examines the impact of the STP program on children's and parents’ perceptions of AST barriers, and children's engagement in AST from pre- to post-intervention. In total, 13 elementary schools representing a total sample of 4720 parents and 2084 children from across Southwestern Ontario, Canada were involved in this program evaluation. ResultsFindings indicate that the STP program was successful in significantly reducing children's and parents’ perceptions of AST barriers. An analysis of travel behaviour found the STP program was limited in affecting behavioural change, as the results show an insignificant trend of increasing AST use and decreasing car use. ConclusionsChanging perceptions of AST barriers suggests that the STP intervention has the potential to change intentions and motivation for parents and children, which may lead to significant increases in future AST. This study recommends that future interventions focus on parental education and empowerment initiatives to reduce an apparent intention-behaviour gap that exists in their AST decision making process.