Perceived Control Beliefs Research Articles

Beliefs and Perceptions of Physical Activity Among Black Adolescents in South Florida: A Qualitative Study.

In the United States, non-Hispanic Black adolescents have a significantly higher prevalence of obesity than their peers. Though physical activity (PA) has many benefits, many adolescents fail to engage in adequate amounts of PA. Black adolescents are also more sedentary than those from other races and ethnicities. This study aimed to describe the perceptions, beliefs, and barriers to PA in South Florida Black adolescents. Five focus groups were conducted with self-identified non-Hispanic Black adolescents (n = 38) in South Florida. A semi-structured question guide based on the Theory of Planned Behavior was used for group discussions. The open-ended questions addressed adolescents' (1) attitudes and beliefs toward PA, (2) current PA-related behaviors, and (3) environmental, social, cultural, and racial influences on health behaviors. The desire to be healthy, thoughts of the future, and self-image were among the reasons participants engaged in PA. Engagement in PA was associated with a positive social environment, including encouragement from family and friends. Race, culture, and social media were also cited as influences on PA. Perceived control beliefs, such as parental pressures and self-discipline, also impacted PA. Adolescents recognize the importance of PA; however, their behaviors do not reflect this. Barriers and motivators for Black adolescents are multifaceted. It is critical for Public Health practitioners and local legislators to understand the complexities to serve this population. This study's findings can guide the development of tailored PA and education programs for Black adolescent populations.

The Culture of Driving under the Influence of Cannabis and Alcohol in Washington State

Traffic crashes are a significant public health concern killing more than 37,000 people each year in the U.S. Poly-drug impaired driving is a growing factor in many fatal crashes. Research has shown that cannabis and alcohol (separately and combined) impair driving ability and increase crash risk. Washington State legalized recreational cannabis in 2014 and has since seen a steady increase in adult use of cannabis, and relatedly, drivers testing positive for compounds associated with cannabis. This study examined the behaviors and culture (e.g., shared values and beliefs) associated with driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol of a representative sample of adults in Washington State. Most adults (91%) reported they did not drive within 2 hr of consuming cannabis and alcohol, had a negative attitude about that behavior (81%), and believed it was unacceptable (83%). Those drivers who reported they did drive within 2 hr of consuming cannabis and alcohol had different beliefs, for example that using cannabis after having too much to drink would calm them down and sober them up. This study examined the relationship between attitudes, behavioral beliefs, perceived injunctive and descriptive norms, perceived control beliefs, values, and assumptions and driving within 2 hr of consuming cannabis and alcohol.

Utilizing Social Determinants of Health to Elicit Perceived Control Beliefs About Physical Activity Among African Americans.

This qualitative study explored African Americans' perceived behavioral control (PBC) beliefs about how social determinants of health (SDoH) impact their physical activity behavior. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with African Americans aged 30-50 in Oklahoma. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes by two independent coders. Economic stability themes represented beliefs that financial status facilitates physical activity, yet, employment duties impede physical activity. SES barriers to physical activity did not emerge within this relatively high SES sample. Neighborhood and built environment themes represented beliefs that accessibility facilitates physical activity, while inclement weather impedes physical activity. Although not a part of the question path, motivation emerged as a theme and represented beliefs about how motivation impacts physically active behavior in the absence of other SDoH barriers. This research can inform interventions developed to promote physical activity among African American adults in the central US.

Exploring Ghanaian commercial drivers’ intentions to wear a seat belt

Wearing a seat belt reduces a person’s risk of serious injury and death during a road traffic crash. Ghana has mandatory seat belt laws. Despite this, only a few commercial drivers wear a seat belt. This study aimed to gain an understanding of the factors associated with the intention to wear a seat belt in a sample of commercial drivers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Drivers of passenger-carrying minibuses (N = 303) completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire based on the theory of planned behaviour. Structural equation modelling (SEM) showed that attitudinal beliefs about seat belt use were positively associated with the intention to wear a seat belt. Normative beliefs and perceived control beliefs were not associated with the intention to wear a seat belt. The results demonstrate that commercial drivers in the Greater Accra Region seem to possess attitudinally-controlled intentions, such that road safety campaigns that target the antecedents of attitude formation and activation may strengthen behavioural beliefs about seat belt use intentions. Having positive attitudes towards seat belt use should be considered by the National Road Safety Commission as an important starting point for seat belt use safety interventions. For example, seat belt use interventions for commercial drivers that combine education with the use of intelligent seat belt reminders (loud sound or light displays) may strengthen positive attitudes towards seat belt use.

Assessing physicians’ intention to prescribe antimicrobials for chronic HIV/AIDS associated diarrhea among adults in Nigeria, using the theory of planned behavior

Chronic diarrhea remains one of the commonest manifestation of HIV and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality despites gains in greater access to antiretroviral drugs and treatments of opportunistic infections globally. Yet, there is lack of precise evidence about the place of antimicrobials in chronic HIV associated diarrhea among adults. Physicians have continued to prescribe antimicrobials empirically or otherwise for chronic HIV associated diarrhea among adults. The aim of this study is to assess Physicians’ intension to prescribe antimicrobials in chronic HIV associated diarrhea among adults in Nigeria using the constructs of theory of planned behavior: Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Perceived behavioral control. An exploratory cross sectional survey was carried out. A structured questionnaire was developed following a pilot study to elicit salient beliefs among Physicians and a review of the literature. The study was carried out in 3 Northern Nigerian states among Physicians in Primary/Secondary and Tertiary hospitals in 2014. Data was analyzed using SPSS and STATA. After descriptive statistics, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the key constructs of TPB and Physician’s intension to prescribe antimicrobials in chronic HIV associated diarrhea among adults. We found strong intention to prescribe antimicrobials among Physicians respondents. The constructs of the theory of planned behavior explained 40% of variance of the Physicians’ intention to prescribe antimicrobials for chronic AIDS associated diarrhea in adults. Perceived control behavior and knowledge were the most important components of the model associated with intention. This study has further added new knowledge to the pool of evidence that Perceived Control Beliefs and Knowledge significantly influence Physicians’ intention to prescribe antimicrobials in chronic AIDS associated diarrhea. This finding reinforces the utility of theory of planned behavior as a tool to study health care service provision and utilization. There is need for future studies to test if changes in perceived control behavior and knowledge will leads to changes in intention to prescribe antimicrobials for chronic AIDS associated diarrhea and ultimately leading to a change in the clinical practice of managing chronic AIDS associated diarrhea in adults.

Determinants of condom use among heterosexual young men and women in southeastern Ghana: a mediation analysis

ABSTRACT Sexual risk behaviour among young people raises public health concerns in Ghana. This study aimed to determine the predictors of condom use among heterosexual young people in the eastern region of Ghana, using a health behaviour theory – the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Participants completed a questionnaire battery assessing attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intentions and condom use behaviour. Structural equation modelling procedures were used to analyse the data. Attitudes towards condom use and perceived behavioural control over condom use were significantly positively associated with the intention to use condoms. Intention to use condoms predicted condom use behaviour. Moreover, intention to use condoms mediated the attitude–behaviour relationship, and the perceived control–behaviour relationship. These results highlight the importance of using behavioural beliefs, perceived control beliefs and behavioural intention as key variables in condom promotion programmes among in-school heterosexual youth in the eastern region of Ghana.

Education, Perceived Control, and Volunteering

The consistent effect of education on volunteering has been explained in a number of ways. In this study we test the hypothesis that perceived control beliefs are partly responsible. Using two waves of panel data from National Survey of Midlife in the United States we estimated cross‐lagged structural equation models in which education is positioned as the exogenous variable and perceived control and volunteering are allowed to be reciprocally related across the two waves. We find that perceived control predicts volunteering, but there is no reciprocal effect: volunteering has no effect on sense of control. One reason, therefore, that educated people are more likely to volunteer is that they have stronger control beliefs. The findings enrich the theory of volunteering by introducing the idea of agency, showing one way in which resources influence the decision to volunteer.

Do past stressful life events and personal control beliefs predict subjective wellbeing in old age? Evidence from a Spanish nationwide representative sample

ABSTRACTIt has been widely corroborated that recent stressful life events could impact wellbeing; nevertheless, it is not clear whether stressful situations experienced in the past and the individual resources used to deal with them influence older adults’ wellbeing. This study aims to analyse the influence of stressful past events and personal control beliefs, or the extent to which people believe they can control or influence their environment in order to achieve desired outcomes, on negative affect and domain-specific life satisfaction in a cross-sectional sample of 1,177 Spanish people age 50 years and older. For this purpose, the measurement of ten stressful past events, perceived control beliefs, negative affect and life satisfaction were obtained. Preliminary analyses showed that domain-specific life satisfaction grouped into two factors: internal and external life satisfaction. The results of the partial least squares structural equation model indicated that stressful events and control beliefs have an impact on both negative affect and life satisfaction in old age. Stressful past events had a negative effect on life satisfaction, while control beliefs were positively associated with negative affect. The model was able to predict the variance of internal life satisfaction at 37.5 per cent.

Using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction to Understand College Students’ Hookup Sex Beliefs, Intentions, and Behaviors

ABSTRACTGuided by the integrated model of behavioral prediction, this study explored the attitudinal, normative, and perceived control beliefs that predict college student hookup intentions and behavior. We first conducted elicitation research with six focus groups of undergraduate students to identify salient beliefs to inform questionnaire development, and then we collected and analyzed questionnaire data from 268 undergraduate students to explore the direct and indirect determinants that drive hookup behaviors. We compared proposed models that tested separate paths from determinants to intention and behavior to theoretical models that treated intention as a mediator of the determinant–behavior relationship. The results indicate that in both the proposed and theoretical models, direct and indirect attitudes were the strongest predictors of intentions and behavior. Positive attitude beliefs were consistently and significantly correlated with both intention and behavior, while only select normative and control beliefs were so correlated. Finally, although the data fit both the proposed and theoretical models, the proposed models provided a more accurate fit. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of our results, and we offer directions for future research.

Retrospective Reports of Childhood Misfortune Are Associated With Positive and Negative Affect in Adulthood.

Childhood misfortune refers to nonnormative experiences individuals encounter at younger ages that affect development across the life span. This study examined whether retrospectively reported childhood misfortune was associated with negative and positive affect in adulthood. In addition, we explored whether perceived control beliefs would moderate these associations. We used archival data from 6,067 adults ( Mage = 46.86; range = 20-75) from the Midlife Development in the United States study. Higher levels of misfortune were associated with higher levels of negative affect and lower levels of positive affect in adulthood. However, control beliefs moderated this association such that the combination of higher perceived control and misfortune resulted in less of a decrease in positive affect and less of an increase in negative affect. Overall, early life events were associated with later life emotional health, and control beliefs were an important psychological resource that buffered the negative effects of childhood misfortune.

Facilitating mental health help seeking in young adults: the underlying theory and development of an online navigation tool

ABSTRACTObjective: This paper describes the theoretical basis of the Link program, a world-first dedicated online navigation tool to facilitate mental health help-seeking for young adults.Method: Several theories of help-seeking and behaviour change were explored to determine a useful theoretical framework for the Link program, a world-first dedicated online navigation tool to facilitate mental health help-seeking for young adults.Results: Four commonly used theories of behavioural change were examined with the Theory of Planned Behaviour found to best match the objectives of the Link program. Previous interventions aimed at increasing help-seeking behaviour and intentions using the Theory of Planned Behaviour found that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control beliefs have a role in help-seeking. Combined with elements of the Help Seeking Model, due to its specificity in mental health help-seeking, the Theory of Planned Behaviour was selected as the theoretical framework of the Link program. The resultant prototype allows young adults to enter information about an issue they are facing, the severity of the issue, and the type of services they prefer. Recommendations for information or services are then presented based upon these individual needs.Discussion: Little is known about the effects online services have on emotional affect and whether these services facilitate help-seeking in young people. Detailed description of this developmental work will assist in understanding the mechanisms underpinning the Link program. Further research will evaluate the effectiveness of the Link program in improving help-seeking, emotions, and mental health outcomes.

Enhancing the academic success of competitive student athletes using a motivation treatment intervention (Attributional Retraining)

Competitive student athletes who experience the typical challenges inherent in high school-to-university transitions must also overcome sport-related difficulties which can undermine their academic motivation and class attendance due to competitions, fatigue, injuries, identity issues, and novel training environments (MacNamara & Collins, 2010; Simons et al., 1999). In an eight-month quasi-experimental, randomized treatment field study, an attribution-based motivation treatment (Attributional Retraining: AR) was administered to student athletes (n = 185) and non-athletes (n = 281) who differed in perceived control beliefs (±1 SD) in a two-semester, online course. Simple slope regression analyses revealed the AR (vs. no-AR) treatment assisted competitive student athletes who had low control beliefs by increasing perceived success in the course (b = 0.84, p = 0.038), post-treatment test performance (b = 11.68, p = 0.001), year-end course grades (b = 6.32, p = 0.017), and by reducing course withdrawals (b = −1.00, p = 0.034, OR = 0.37). These results demonstrate the benefits of an attribution-based motivation treatment for vulnerable student-athletes in terms of perceived course success, performance, and persistence in making the transition from high school to college.

Therapist-Aided Exposure for Women with Lifelong Vaginismus: Mediators of Treatment Outcome: A Randomized Waiting List Control Trial.

Therapist-aided exposure seems an effective treatment for lifelong vaginismus, but mechanisms of action have not yet been established. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether treatment outcome of a therapist-aided exposure treatment was mediated by changes in positive and negative penetration beliefs or feelings of sexual disgust. Participants with lifelong vaginismus were allocated at random to a 3-month exposure (n = 35) or a waiting list control condition (n = 35). Full intercourse was assessed daily during 12 weeks. Secondary outcome measures (complaints about vaginismus and coital pain) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Possible mediators: penetration beliefs (catastrophic pain beliefs, genital incompatibility beliefs, perceived control beliefs) and feelings of sexual disgust were assessed at baseline and 6 weeks. Treatment outcome (coital frequency, symptoms of vaginismus, and coital pain) at 12 weeks was mediated by changes in negative and positive penetration beliefs at 6 weeks, in particular by more pronounced reduction of catastrophic pain penetration beliefs. No evidence was found that changes in feelings of sexual disgust mediated treatment outcome. The results strongly suggest that therapist-aided exposure affects negative penetration beliefs and that these changes in negative penetration beliefs mediate treatment outcome in women with lifelong vaginismus. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Technology Acceptance in Health Care: An Integrative Review of Predictive Factors and Intervention Programs

The acceptance and increasing utilization of technological innovations in health care are crucially beneficial for both health care professionals and patients during the diagnosis and treatment processes. The literature includes various intervention programs aiming to increase technology acceptance in this field. In this review, studies investigating the factors influencing the technology acceptance and recent interventions intending to enhance the technology usage in the field are covered. Generally, theory of planned behavior, technology acceptance model, diffusion of innovation theory and unified theory of technology acceptance cover the most distinguished concepts and constructs to understand attitudes towards technological innovations. Influencing factors may differ for health care professionals and patients. While perceived benefits of technological innovations may be the most distinctive factor for health care professionals, ease of use is of big importance for patients. Perceived ease of use is affected by personal norms and perceived control beliefs. Suspicions of confidentiality and privacy are strong influencing factors for refusing technology usage for patients. Considering all these factors are necessary while designing intervention programs to enhance technology acceptance in health care. In the conclusion, the paper discusses whether the intervention programs originate from previously covered theoretical concepts and constructs.

Apprenticeship orientation as planned behavior in educational choices: a path model of antecedent beliefs

A hypothetical descriptive behavioral model extending the theory of planned behavior (TPB) was examined for subjective perceived control beliefs as antecedents of the apprenticeship orientation for vocational-educational training (VET). Attributes of self-regulation and self-regulatory systems in belief formation, and affective evaluation, were expected to vary with student choice of apprenticeship in an educational path. A research question concerning initiative, independence, and self-guidance, hypothesized to be proximal antecedents of part-time job willingness and apprenticeship willingness was answered. A survey of ninth-grade students in Finnish comprehensive school was conducted after implementation of a work-orientation program. At the local school system level, 649 subjects of the mean ages of 16.0 years participated in a web-based survey in two school districts in the south-west of Finland in 2010. The observed variables were inserted for Path Analysis conducted in IBM Analysis of Moment Structures. Factor Analysis was used as a preliminary step for Path Analysis. The variables formed a fitting belief-based path model for the interaction of initiative, independence, and self-guidance in apprenticeship conation. Part-time Job willingness served as a mediating variable. Independence interest belief and the mediating variable part-time willingness correlated negatively. Initiative showing interest and self-guidance want contributed positively to apprenticeship conation. The findings gave tentative evidence of subjective antecedent beliefs linking Self-Direction and Apprenticeship willingness.

Key Strategies for Improving Public Transportation Based on Planned Behavior Theory: Case Study in Shanghai, China

To advance public transportation development, it should be explored from the perspective of behavioral analysis. This paper adopts the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to study public transportation choice behaviors. The first aim is to explore the necessity of dividing subjective norms into an injunctive norm and a descriptive norm and to explore their roles in predicting behaviors. The second aim is to investigate the mechanism related to several key variables and their role in forming the intention to take transit. The third aim is to develop appropriate improvement strategies through the analysis of behavior, subjective norms, or perceived control beliefs. Empirical data were collected by distributing online and hard-copy questionnaires in Shanghai, China. A sample of 393 valid questionnaires was collected. An ordinal regression model was constructed based on the empirical data. The results reveal that TPB can be applied to explain choice behaviors with respect to public transport. Among the factors affecting travelers’ intentions, attitude toward public transport is most decisive. Descriptive norms seem to have more direct effects on public transport use behaviors on the basis of the correlation coefficients. Injunctive norms, at least in this case, have a more obvious influence on travelers’ intention to take public transport than do descriptive norms. Furthermore, on the basis of belief analysis, some critical approaches to improving the competitiveness of Shanghai public transportation are proposed that can be used to develop people-oriented public transportation policies and strategies in other similar cities.

Perceived control as a longitudinal moderator of late-life stressors on depressive symptoms

Objectives: This study examined perceived control as a moderator of the relationship between late-life stressors and depressive symptoms among a sample of older New Zealanders. Method: Data were drawn from a longitudinal study with two data collection periods, one year apart. The Time 1 sample consisted of 1489 participants ranging in age from 65 to 94 years and 72% percent participated at Time 2. Correlational and multiple regression procedures were used to examine study hypotheses. Results: Results showed that Time 1 perceived control beliefs were a unique predictor of depressive symptoms at Time 2 after controlling for Time 1 depressives symptoms and other relevant variables. Further, perceived control beliefs at Time 1 moderated the relationship between late-life stressors and depressive symptoms at Time 2. Those with low perceived control demonstrated a stronger relationship between late-life stressors and depressive symptoms than those with high perceived control. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that perceived control influences levels of depressive symptoms over time among older adults. Results also support the hypothesis that control beliefs moderate the relationship between late-life stressors and depressive symptoms among older adults. Implications include attributional retraining to promote perceived control and subsequent well-being in older adults.

Psychologic effects of automated external defibrillator training: A randomized trial

Objective The objective of this study was to test whether an automated external defibrillator (AED) training program would positively affect the mental health of family members of high-risk patients. Methods A total of 305 patients with ischemic heart disease and their family members were randomized to 1 of 4 AED training programs: 2 video-based training programs and 2 face-to-face training programs that emphasized self-efficacy and perceived control. Patients and family members were surveyed at baseline and 3 and 9 months postischemic event on demographic characteristics, measures of quality of life (Short Form-36), self-efficacy, and perceived control. For this study, family members were the focus rather than the patients. Results Regression analyses showed that family members in the face-to-face training programs did not score better on any of the mental health status variables than family members who participated in the other training programs except for an increase in self-efficacy beliefs at 3 months after training. Conclusion The findings suggest that a specifically designed AED training program emphasizing self-efficacy and perceived control beliefs is not likely to enhance family member mental health.

Parental cognitions in explanatory models of young children’s oral health-related behaviour and dental decay outcomes: A systematic review

The following sysstematic review presents evidence from four theoretically-based cross-sectional studies which investigate the role of parental cognitions in understanding young children’s oral health-related behaviours and outcomes. Findings indicate that the attitudes and beliefs of parents or caregivers of young children have significant predictive power in explaining self-reported tooth brushing, intentions to control sugar snacking and clinical decay outcome. In particular, measures of parents’ self-efficacy or perceived control beliefs appear particularly important in explaining variance in behavioural and dental decay outcomes. Researchers and clinicians involved in developing explanatory models of oral health and intervention approaches with young children should give greater consideration to the role of parental cognitions. This will improve our knowledge about how to change oral health preventative practices to improve oral health in this population.

Beliefs About Physical Activity—Focus Group Results of Chinese Community Elderly in Seattle and Taipei

The purpose of this study was to identify the beliefs about physical activity held by Chinese immigrant older adults in Seattle and to compare them with the beliefs held by Chinese elderly in Taipei. Researchers conducted 2 focus groups of Chinese older adults to explore their behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and perceived control beliefs. The first group included 10 elderly recruited from the Chinese Information and Service Center in Seattle, Washington. The second group included 14 elderly adults recruited from a health center in Taipei, Taiwan. This study used a qualitative study design, and deductive content analysis was used for analyzing information gathered. The results showed that Chinese immigrant older adults in Seattle had positive attitudes toward physical activity and that, compared with the group in Taipei, the group in Seattle perceived more positive social and environmental supports. The factors influencing Chinese older adults' physical activity and behaviors both in Seattle and in Taipei are discussed.