Significant Predictor Of Behavior Research Articles

Study on Road-Crossing Violations among Young Pedestrians Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

Young pedestrians have a high rate of traffic violations and are vulnerable. In this study, theory of planned behavior (TPB) questionnaires were collected from a sample of 395 young pedestrians. Reliability analysis demonstrated that the TPB questionnaire was effective and credible. An analysis model was established based on the TPB. The motivations for traffic violation behaviors among young pedestrians on intersections were studied from the perspective of social psychology. The results revealed that the most common violation behavior of young pedestrians was crossing on yellow light (29.7%). Male young pedestrians reported the higher intention of violating regulations. Behavioral attitude (0.14), subjective norm (0.17), and perceived behavioral control (0.12) all affected young pedestrians’ behavioral intentions. Relatives and friends played a positive role in mitigating young pedestrians’ intentions to commit violations at intersections. Perceived behavior control had the weakest influence on young pedestrians’ intentions to violate regulations. Behavioral intention (0.31) was the most direct and significant predictor of behavior. The results of the study are valuable for the identification of the causes of traffic violations among young pedestrians, and they can serve as a reference for the implementation of effective interventions.

Determinants of Undergraduates’ Environmental Behavioural Intentions and Their Links to Socioscientific Issues Education

Socioscientific issues (SSI) education provides a framework for students to learn about controversial scientific topics such as climate change, vaccines, and genetic engineering, but rarely measures specific personal factors in student decision-making. SSI educators might benefit from building on behavior theories such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Value-Belief-Norm Theory of Environmentalism (VBN) in examining how students make decisions about different types of environmental issues. Undergraduate students (n=132) were surveyed to investigate for which types of behavior TPB, VBN, or both theories are most effective, and to explore whether climate change knowledge was a significant predictor of behavior. Behaviors were divided into indirect behaviors with recycling as a direct behavior comparison. The combined theories of behavior best predicted behavioral intentions in regression models over either theory individually. Recycling, a direct environmental behavior, was predicted by different determinants than three indirect environmental behaviors. Climate change knowledge was not a significant predictor in any of the models. These results support the use of different behavior models for different behaviors and exploration of subjective and personal norms around environmental behavior in the SSI classroom.

Adult attachment styles and mothers' life satisfaction in relation to eating behaviors in the families with overweight and obese children.

Family plays a significant role in shaping children's eating behaviors. The aim of the study was to assess whether mothers’ attachment style, their life satisfaction and their own body weight can be associated with family eating behaviors. The results from 52 dyads (mothers/children) covered by the Metabolic Disease Clinic were analyzed. A targeted sample selection was used, taking into account the weight (overweight/obesity) and age (≥11 years) criteria of the child. The results have shown that the mother's body weight is a significant determinant of her child's body weight. The anxiety-ambivalent attachment style in mothers is a significant predictor of behaviors aimed at regulating and controlling affective states by food. A decrease in the knowledge of nutrition is associated with an increase in the level of anxiety-ambivalent and avoidant style. The avoidant attachment style is significantly associated with the nutrition organisation and control. Dysfunctional eating behaviors predominate among mothers with a lower level of life satisfaction. The lower the level of life satisfaction, the greater the tendency to regulate affective states and family relationships through nutrition, and to manifest improper organisation of nutrition. Mothers with obesity, compared to mothers with overweight and with normal body weight show a higher level of regulating emotions through food, improper organisation of nutrition and lower control in this area. The research results indicateshow significant relationships between insecure attachment styles, life satisfaction, and the mother's weight with eating behaviors unfavorable to health. It is therefore necessary to include family factors in the process of creating effective intervention strategies.

Applying the Protective Action Decision Model to Explain Cyclone Shutter Installation Behavior

Structural upgrades can mitigate property damage caused by tropical cyclones. However, people in high-risk areas do not always install these upgrades. This paper used the protective action decision model (PADM) as a theoretical framework for explaining one specific type of structural mitigation behavior: the installation of cyclone shutters. The results indicated that the degree to which people think and talk about cyclones (hazard intrusiveness) was a significant predictor of behavior but that risk perception was not. Moreover, the results show that people need to perceive that installing shutters has benefits beyond mitigating damage (e.g., increases property value and has utility for other purposes). Contrary to past research, it was also found that the perceived cost of shutter installation (in terms of time, money, and effort) was important. The results provide evidence for the utility of the PADM for explaining long-term, high-cost natural hazard mitigation behavior.

Factors associated with household contacts’ tuberculosis testing and evaluation

No research has been done in New York City that shows the demographic characteristics of household contacts testing, evaluation, and treatment of LTBI. The objective of the study was to identify demographic factors associated with household contacts' TB testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment. A retrospective analysis of the New York City (NYC) TB registry data that examined the factors (gender, age, country of birth, race/ethnicity, and borough of residence) associated with TB testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment. The study sample included all household contacts of TB cases identified from 2010 to 2014 (N=3,008). The data set was chosen when nurses were the primary case managers at chest centers in the department of health. Descriptive and inferential analysis was used to identify factors associated with testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment. The demographic characteristics of household contacts associated with testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment were consistent with those of TB cases in NYC from 2010 to 2014. Those not tested, not fully evaluated, and refusing LTBI treatment were most often aged 18-44years and were non-US born. Males were significantly more likely than females not to be fully evaluated. Among racial/ethnic groups, Asian and Hispanic persons were at higher risk of not being fully evaluated, and residents of Queens had the highest risk among the five boroughs. In multivariate analyses, age was a significant predictor of behavior, such that the older the person the less likely to get TB testing or to accept LTBI treatment. Non-US country of birth was associated with lower likelihood of being fully evaluated but more likely to accept LTBI treatment when fully evaluated, while Asian or Hispanic race/ethnicity was associated with higher likelihood of both behaviors. Findings on age from this study will enable public health agencies and public health nurses to plan for effective strategies that will increase the number of household contacts who accept TB testing and evaluation, as well as the numbers who will accept and complete LTBI treatment.

Coopetition in Group Contest

There are situations in which competitors ally to pursue a common objective. This simultaneous presence of cooperation and competition is called coopetition and we study it theoretically and experimentally in a group contest setup. More concretely, we analyze a group contest with a new sharing rule, that we call inverse proportional. This rule embodies the idea that the more a member of a group contributes to win the contest, the less this member is able to capture the potential posterior prize, introducing thus a competitive element into group decision-making. We compare the effects of this rule with a standard, the egalitarian sharing rule. While in the egalitarian case theoretically the optimal individual contribution is positive, with the inverse proportional rule zero contribution represents the individual (and also the social) optimum. We find that participants in our experiment contribute more with the egalitarian than with the inverse proportional rule. We also document over-expenditure with the inverse proportional sharing rule, suggesting that group contest generates inefficient behavior even when individuals are extremely penalized for their contributions. We also explore the drivers of decision in the group contest, and find that contribution in a public goods game is positively associated with contribution in the group contest and that competitiveness explains part of the behavior with the inverse proportional rule but not with the egalitarian sharing. Neither social value orientation, risk attitudes, nor personal traits appear as significant predictors of behavior.

Understanding Iranian Livestock Breeders’ Intentions and Behavior Regarding Nonhuman Animal Welfare

Abstract While there is a large body of literature on the behavior of stockpersons with regard to nonhuman animal welfare in developed countries, no such study has yet been carried out in the developing countries. This study uses an extended model of the Theory of Planned Behavior to predict stockpersons’ intentions and behavior regarding animal welfare. The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. The population of interest consisted of stockpersons in the Sirjan district in the Kerman province, Iran. We found that attitude, moral norms, and perceived behavioral control are significant predictors of intention regarding animal welfare. These three variables predicted 36% of the variance in animal welfare intentions. Furthermore, regression revealed that intention, moral norms, and perceived behavioral control are significant predictors of behavior regarding animal welfare. These three variables predicted 39% of the variance in animal welfare behavior.

The Role of Prevolitional Processes in Video Game Playing: A Test of the Model of Goal-Directed Behavior and the Extended Model of Goal-Directed Behavior.

The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between prevolitional processes and video game playing. Models of attitude, the model of goal-directed behavior (MGB) and the extended model of goal-directed behavior (EMGB) are tested with structural equation models to analyze the process that leads to video game playing. More specifically, the roles of affective, motivational, habitual processes in video game playing and the goal underlying video game playing are examined. The participants were 210 video game players who completed measures of Attitude, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavioral Control, Behavioral Desire, Anticipated Emotions, Intention to Play, intensity of actual and past video game playing (Playing Behavior and Past Playing Behavior) and Goal Desire. The results showed that the initial MGB did not achieve a satisfactory fit and thus, a revised model with more acceptable fit was proposed. It was found that anticipated emotions and attitude are significant predictors of desire to play; desire to play, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms and attitude are significant predictors of intention to play and intention is a significant predictor of playing behavior (actual playing time). Moreover, past playing is a stronger significant predictor of behavior itself than of prevolitional processes in video game playing. Goal desire within the EMGB is a significant predictor of desire to play and the relationship of goal to playing behavior is indirect. Nevertheless, goal desire has an important role in the prevolitional processes of video game playing. In the discussion, potential explanations are further explored.

Does gender really matter? A structural equation model to explain risky and positive cycling behaviors

IntroductionWhile the use of bicycles as mean of transport is growing worldwide, the increasing rates of traffic crashes involving cyclists have turned into a relevant scientific, public health, and road safety concern. According to several studies, and despite the fact that some countries are taking part in preventive actions, the data indicate that the problem of cycling injuries implies high costs for the community welfare, for the economy, and for healthcare systems, thus proving a clear need for solutions. In this regard, and considering the available empirical evidence, risky and positive riding behaviors have gained significant weight in terms of explaining, intervening in, and preventing traffic crashes of cyclists, and some evidence suggests that gender may influence the road behavior of users. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the effect of gender on cyclists' risky and positive riding behavior, considering a set of demographic, psychosocial and bike-use-related variables as potential predictors. MethodFor this cross-sectional study, data from 1064 cyclists (61.2% males and 38.8% females, aged between 17 and 80) from 20 countries, responding an electronic survey, were analyzed through a multi-group structural equation modeling approach. Results: Although hourly intensity, psychological distress and level of knowledge of traffic rules similarly predict the risky road behaviors of both genders, age and risk perception are significant behavioral predictors only in the case of male cyclists. On the other hand, positive behaviors of men are predicted by cycling intensity, knowledge of traffic rules and risk perception, while in the case of women psychological distress predicts -to a significant extent- positive behaviors. Age had no significant effect on the explanation of positive behaviors. ConclusionThe findings of this study support the influence of gender in the statistical explanation of risky and protective behaviors, and they also reveal differentiating variables predicting the riding behavior of male and female cyclists.

The effects of the Dark Triad traits in prisoner’s dilemma game

A standard way to create social dilemmas in the experimental laboratory is the prisoner dilemma game. In this environment, players are given an endowment of tokens and faced with a choice between cooperation and defection. In the present study a prisoner’s dilemma game was administrated to individuals (N = 280), along with measures of Dark Triad and impulsivity. Dark Triad variables were found to predict the likelihood of defection in the prisoner’s dilemma. Specifically, high levels of psychopathy coupled with high impulsivity may better describe a person who repeatedly attempts to extract defection. Defection was also more likely for individuals who scored higher on the Machiavellianism domain. Although Machiavellianism is also linked to higher defection, it has no association with impulsivity, but, rather, is associated with strategy and long-term planning. Interestingly, individuals high in narcissism with their entitlement and over-confidence had no significant effect on defection in such a game. Overall, the study suggests that two dark personality traits can be a significant predictor of behaviour in the prisoner’s dilemma.

Emotions, Motivation, Cognitive–Metacognitive Strategies, and Behavior as Predictors of Learning Performance in Blended Learning

Several studies have focused on identifying the significant behavioral predictors of learning performances in web-based courses by examining the log data variables of learning management systems, including time spent on lectures, the number of assignments submitted, and so forth. However, such studies fail to quantify the impact of emotional, motivational, behavioral, and cognitive–metacognitive factors simultaneously. This research was an attempt to understand the relations between students’ motivation, cognitive–metacognitive strategies, behavior, and learning performance in the context of blended courses in higher education. Then, relevant predictors are used to obtain a model to classify the students’ performance and to identify those who are at risk of failing the course. The authors conducted an empirical study in a higher educational course with 137 Mexican students. Nineteen variables related to emotions, motivation, cognitive–metacognitive strategies, and behavior. Only six were found to be significant. These variables explain approximately 67% of the variance between each student’s overall grade. The model, based on those variables, correctly classifies 96% of the students.

General Dental Practitioners as Potential Responders to Disaster Scenario in a Highly Disaster-prone Area: An Explorative Study.

The aim of this study is to obtain insights pertaining to disaster management among Indian general dental practitioners (GDPs). All GDPs in Mangaluru city, Karnataka, India, were included in the present study. Their willingness to participate in disaster management and their objective knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness related to disaster management were assessed by a structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire. Demographic information was also collected. Overall, 101 GDPs volunteered for the study, and 96.04% of respondents were willing to participate in disaster management. Mean knowledge, attitude, behavior, and perceived effectiveness scores were 52.65, 79.60, 41.55, and 64.20% respectively. Religion (odds ratio [OR] = -0.194, p = 0.022), marital status (OR = -0.222, p = 0.040), attachment to college (OR = -0.256, p = 0.037), familiarity with standard operating procedures (SOP; OR = -0.502, p = 0.000), and knowledge (OR = 0.265, p = 0.003) were significant predictors of behavior. The GDPs reported knowledge and behavior scores which were low, while their attitude and willingness to participate were high. Demographic determinants might be critical indicators in disaster management scenario among GDPs. The present study has crucial implications for policymakers and curriculum changes to integrate dentists effectively into disaster response teams. As responsible members of the society, the dental fraternity has critical contributions to make toward disaster mitigation. Integration of GDPs in a multidisciplinary team managing disasters might be crucial, especially in highly disaster-prone areas, such as India, with a definite paucity of resources.

Screening out accident-prone Iranian drivers: Are their at-fault accidents related to driving behavior?

To provide a scientific background in road safety domain a better understanding of human risk factor is crucial. The aims of the present study were the following: (1) developing an accident prediction model for estimating the at-fault accidents of drivers (2) controlling for the regression-to-the-mean and screening out the accident-prone drivers (3) identification of significant behavioral predictors in at-fault accident occurrences and delving into the relationship between the aberrant driving behaviors and at-fault accidents of those identified as accident-prone. A questionnaire survey compiling various measures of personality type, aberrant driving behavior, demographic and accident history information of 1762 Iranian drivers was conducted in which 1375 male and 387 female participants were of the average age of 35.6 (S.D.=11.987). To analyze the obtained data, the generalized linear modeling (GLM) approach was taken resulting in four models with various independent variables. The results indicated that age, gender, education level, years of active driving, and especially exposure had an effect on drivers’ at-fault accidents while there was no discernible effect from income level, personality type and area of residence. In the screening procedure, 715 drivers were identified as accident-prone. Behavioral comparison analyses indicated that the lapses, errors, ordinary and aggressive violations are different for the accident-prone drivers. A comparison between the accident-prone and non-accident-prone drivers revealed that the ordinary violations have considerably higher effect than the others on at-fault accidents. Implications of the results are discussed with regard to insurance policies and education interventions.

Is sustainability knowledge half the battle?

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of sustainability knowledge to pro-environmental behaviour. A common misperception is that unsustainable behaviours are largely driven by a lack of knowledge of the underlying societal costs and the contributing factors leading to environmental degradation. Such a perception assumes if individuals “only knew better” they would engage in more sustainable behaviours. The “knowledge deficit model” has been critiqued for not including social psychological research about how knowledge is incorporated into decision-making and its subsequent effect on human behaviour. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model has been used extensively to examine intention to engage in a variety of behaviours, therefore this model is applied to examine the effect knowledge has in predicting behaviour.Design/methodology/approachTo better understand these relationships, the authors examined the relationships between sustainability behaviours through an online survey of over 500 students at a large university in the USA.FindingsResults indicate that knowledge had a significant, albeit weak, bivariate correlation with behaviour (r= 0.113,p< 0.001). However, when controlling for TPB variables (attitudes, norms and perceived behavioural control), knowledge was not a significant predictor of behaviour.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors conclude with several implications to guide university sustainability programmes.Originality/valueThis study places sustainable knowledge in the context of other social psychological factors which also influence behaviour. The results show that as the students are educated about sustainability, fostering behaviour change will require education not only about how actions affect sustainability but also about social norms, attitudes towards sustainable behaviours and the level of self-efficacy in doing those behaviours.

To accurately estimate implicit influences on health behavior, accurately estimate explicit influences.

This project considered how inattention to left-out variable error and measurement correspondence in the assessment of explicit measures can result in upwardly biased estimates of the predictive utility of implicit measures designed to predict health behaviors. A pilot study (n = 96) used a cross-sectional design to predict beer consumption and a main study (n = 132) used a longitudinal design to predict binge drinking. In each study, a battery of 4 implicit inventories (implicit association test, personalized implicit association test, evaluative priming, and attribution misattribution paradigm) and a battery of correspondent explicit measures (based on the Reasoned Action Model and the Prototype Willingness Model) were administered to college youth. The Implicit Association Test and evaluative priming measures were not predictive of alcohol consumption in either study, but the personalized implicit association test (PIAT) and affective misattribution paradigm (AMP) accounted for between 5% and 12% in behavioral criteria, when analyzed in isolation or after explicit measures were statistically controlled following measurement conventions in this research domain. When implicit measures were folded into a structural equation model derived from the Reasoned Action and Prototype Willingness Models, The PIAT was no longer a significant predictor of behavior and the AMP resulted in a 1%-2% incremental increase in accounted for variance. Left-out variable error and measurement correspondence are core principles that need to be considered when modeling the relative contributions of implicit and explicit constructs in the prediction of health behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record

Predictors of adults' helping intentions and behaviours towards a person with a mental illness: A six-month follow-up study

Little is known about the relationship between adults' intentions to assist a hypothetical person experiencing a mental illness and their subsequent first aid actions in reality. This study examines whether the quality of respondents' stated first aid intentions predicts the quality of their helping behaviour towards a person they know in real life. A convenience sample of 820 Australian adults completed two surveys six months apart which asked questions about a hypothetical person experiencing depression with suicidal thoughts, and how they had assisted someone with a similar problem in their lives. The quality of helping intentions at baseline predicted the quality of mental health first aid behaviours at follow-up, as did the quality of past behaviours. In particular, people who intended to assess and assist with the crisis situation in the vignette were five times more likely to perform the same action when helping someone they knew. The quality of past intentions and behaviour, and confidence in helping, were the most significant predictors of behaviour at follow-up. These findings suggest that adults' mental health first aid intentions can be used to predict their subsequent behaviours, therefore, educating communities about effective first aid responses may increase future rates of appropriate help.

Physical Activity and Transitioning to College: The Importance of Intentions and Habits.

First generation students transitioning to college experience specific challenges that impact on their engagement in physical activity. Furthermore, this population experiences a context disruption that provides a unique opportunity to examine whether intention and habit predict physical activity. The aim of the current research was to determine the efficacy of the theory of planned behavior in the prediction of intention and behavior within this population, and to determine whether habit contributes to the prediction of physical activity. In this observational study, a convenience sample of first generation college students (N = 101) completed measures of theory of planned behavior variables and habit strength at Time 1, and one week later reported physical activity. The theory of planned behavior was partially supported in this context, as intention was the only significant predictor of behavior. Habit strength accounted for additional variance in physical activity but did not moderate the relationship between intention and behavior. The hypothesized model accounted for 46.9% of the variance in physical activity, and intention (β = .455) and habit (β = .364) were significant predictors. Intention and habit exert independent effects on physical activity within this population, and are both suitable targets for intervention.

Hand hygiene of medical students and resident physicians: predictors of attitudes and behaviour.

We measured medical students' and resident trainees' hand hygiene behaviour, knowledge and attitudes in order to identify important predictors of hand hygiene behaviour in this population. An anonymous, web-based questionnaire was distributed to medical students and residents at Stanford University School of Medicine in August of 2012. The questionnaire included questions regarding participants' behaviour, knowledge, attitude and experiences about hand hygiene. Behaviour, knowledge and attitude indices were scaled from 0 to 1, with 1 representing superior responses. Using multivariate regression, we identified positive and negative predictors of superior hand hygiene behaviour. We investigated effectiveness of interventions, barriers and comfort reminding others. 280 participants (111 students and 169 residents) completed the questionnaire (response rate 27.8%). Residents and medical students reported hand hygiene behaviour compliance of 0.45 and 0.55, respectively (p=0.02). Resident and medical student knowledge was 0.80 and 0.73, respectively (p=0.001). The attitude index for residents was 0.56 and 0.55 for medical students. Regression analysis identified experiences as predictors of hand hygiene behaviour (both positive and negative influence). Knowledge was not a significant predictor of behaviour, but a working gel dispenser and observing attending physicians with good hand hygiene practices were reported by both groups as the most effective strategy in influencing trainees. Medical students and residents have similar attitudes about hand hygiene, but differ in their level of knowledge and compliance. Concerns about hierarchy may have a significant negative impact on hand hygiene advocacy.

Allowing and Using Foods of Low Nutritional Value in Elementary School Classrooms: The Implications of Teachers' Beliefs

ObjectiveTo investigate elementary teachers' behavior toward allowing and using foods with low nutritional value in the classroom. Design/SettingA survey guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior was administered in fall, 2012 in 10 schools. ParticipantsElementary public school teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through 6. Main Outcome MeasuresTeachers' behavior and beliefs regarding allowing and using foods with low nutritional value in the classroom and Theory of Planned Behavior determinants. AnalysisPairwise correlation coefficients and multivariate linear regression to assess relationships between theory determinants and descriptive statistics. ResultsAll 3 determinants, Attitude Toward the Behavior (t = 4.04; P < .01), Subjective Norms (t = 3.78; P < .01), and Perceived Behavioral Control (t = 5.19; p < .01), were statistically significant predictors of behavior. The majority of teachers (94%) allowed foods of low nutritional value for celebrations at least some of the time, and 75% stated that they had control over what foods they allow. Conclusions and ImplicationsDiscussions among teachers and school health professionals should ensue to improve nutritional content of foods allowed in classrooms. School policies can be developed and evaluated for effectiveness to have a positive impact on childhood obesity and school nutrition environments.

Role of affective attitudes and anticipated affective reactions in predicting health behaviors.

Two measures of affect-affective attitude (AA) and anticipated affective reaction (AAR)-have frequently been used individually, but rarely simultaneously, in correlational studies predicting health behaviors. This research assessed their individual and combined impact in predicting intention and action for a range of health behaviors, controlling for theory of planned behavior (TPB) variables. Self-reported intentions and performance of health behaviors were the main outcome measures. Study 1 is a meta-analysis of published studies (k = 16) measuring the relevant variables. In Study 2, adults (N = 426) completed questionnaires assessing TPB variables, past behavior, AA, AAR, and subsequent behavior for a range of health behaviors. Across both studies, AA and AAR were only moderately intercorrelated, although both had significant correlations with both intentions and behavior. AA was a significant predictor of intentions and behavior after controlling for TPB variables (Studies 1 and 2) plus past behavior (Study 2). In Study 1, AAR was a significant predictor of behavior, but not intentions, when controlling for TPB variables. In Study 2, AAR was a significant predictor of intentions when controlling for both TPB variables plus past behavior (Study 2), but was not a significant predictor of behavior when controlling for either of these variables. Several relationships were moderated by health-behavior category. Both AA and AAR are important predictors of health behaviors and can have independent effects on intentions and action. Studies manipulating both variables to test their independent and combined effects on behavior change are required.