How well do cognitive and environmental variables predict active commuting?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, there has been growing interest in theoretical studies integrating cognitions and environmental variables in the prediction of behaviour related to the obesity epidemic. This is the approach adopted in the present study in reference to the theory of planned behaviour. More precisely, the aim of this study was to determine the contribution of cognitive and environmental variables in the prediction of active commuting to get to and from work or school.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective study was carried out with 130 undergraduate and graduate students (93 females; 37 males). Environmental, cognitive and socio-demographic variables were evaluated at baseline by questionnaire. Two weeks later, active commuting (walking/bicycling) to get to and from work or school was self-reported by questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to predict intention and behaviour.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The model predicting behaviour based on cognitive variables explained more variance than the model based on environmental variables (37.4% versus 26.8%; Z = 3.86, <it>p </it>< 0.001). Combining cognitive and environmental variables with socio-demographic variables to predict behaviour yielded a final model explaining 41.1% (<it>p </it>< 0.001) of the variance. The significant determinants were intention, habit and age. Concerning intention, the same procedure yielded a final model explaining 78.2% (<it>p </it>< 0.001) of the variance, with perceived behavioural control, attitude and habit being the significant determinants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results showed that cognitive variables play a more important role than environmental variables in predicting and explaining active commuting. When environmental variables were significant, they were mediated by cognitive variables. Therefore, individual cognitions should remain one of the main focuses of interventions promoting active commuting among undergraduate and graduate students.</p

Understanding physical activity intentions among French Canadians with type 2 diabetes: an extension of Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Regular physical activity is considered a cornerstone for managing type 2 diabetes. However, in Canada, most individuals with type 2 diabetes do not meet national physical activity recommendations. When designing a theory-based intervention, one should first determine the key determinants of physical activity for this population. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information on this aspect among adults with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to fill this gap using an extended version of Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as reference.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 501 individuals with type 2 diabetes residing in the Province of Quebec (Canada) completed the study. Questionnaires were sent and returned by mail.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Multiple hierarchical regression analyses indicated that TPB variables explained 60% of the variance in intention. The addition of other psychosocial variables in the model added 7% of the explained variance. The final model included perceived behavioral control (β = .38, p < .0001), moral norm (β = .29, p < .0001), and attitude (β = .14, p < .01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings suggest that interventions aimed at individuals with type 2 diabetes should ensure that people have the necessary resources to overcome potential obstacles to behavioral performance. Interventions should also favor the development of feelings of personal responsibility to exercise and promote the advantages of exercising for individuals with type 2 diabetes.</p

Psychosocial determinants of intention to abstain from drinking alcohol while pregnant among a sample of women of childbearing age

In many countries, not drinking alcohol during pregnancy is strongly recommended, since consuming alcohol can be hazardous for the unborn child. Despite this, a number of women drink alcohol while pregnant. The two objectives of the study were to identify (1) the determinants of intention to abstain from drinking alcohol while pregnant among 167 women of childbearing age between the ages of 18 and 44, and (2) the factors that programs promoting alcohol abstinence during pregnancy should consider. Data was collected using a questionnaire based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour. A large majority of the participants reported consuming alcohol on a regular basis. Although most of them expressed a strong intention to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy, about one woman in four did not have a firm intention. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the four determinants of intention were moral norm (odds ratio [OR] = 12.97; 95% confidence interval [CI95%]: 3.83-43.91), anticipated regret (OR = 11.43; CI95%: 3.46-37.75), attitude (OR = 7.49; CI95%: 2.37-23.64) and perceived behavioural control (OR = 3.60; CI95% 1.11-11.65). Moreover, a discriminant analysis identified specific beliefs significantly related to intention not to consume alcohol while pregnant. These results can prove useful in guiding the development of a program promoting alcohol abstinence among women of childbearing age in order to reduce the number of unborn children exposed to alcohol during pregnancy

Determinants of the intention of elementary school nurses to adopt a redefined role in health promotion at school

BACKGROUND: The quest for greater efficiency in the provision of primary healthcare services and the implementation of a "health-promoting school" approach encourage the optimal redefinition of the role of school nurses. School nurses are viewed as professionals who might be significant actors in the promotion of youth health. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of the intention of elementary school nurses to adopt a new health-promotion role as a strategic option for the health-promoting school. METHODS: This study was based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). A total of 251 respondents (response rate of 70%) from 42 school health programs across the Province of Québec completed a mail survey regarding their intention to adopt the proposed health-promotion role. Multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between key independent variables and intention. A discriminant analysis of the beliefs was performed to identify the main targets of action. RESULTS: A total of 73% of respondents expressed a positive intention to accept to play the proposed role. The main predictors were perceived behavioural control (β = 0.36), moral norm (β = 0.27), attitude (β = 0.24), and subjective norm (β = 0.21) (ps < .0001), explaining 83% of the variance. The underlying beliefs distinguishing nurses who had a high intention from those who had a low intention referred to their feelings of being valued, their capacity to overcome the nursing shortage, the approval of the school nurses' community and parents of the students, their leadership skills, and their gaining of a better understanding of school needs. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that leadership is a skill that should be addressed to increase the ability of school nurses to assume the proposed role. Findings also indicate that public health administrators need to ensure adequate nurse staffing in the schools in order to increase the proportion of nurses willing to play such a role and avoid burnout among these human resources

L’environnement social des hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec d’autres hommes. Résultats de l’enquête québécoise.

La présente étude visait à mieux connaître les liens que les hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec d'autres hommes entretiennent avec leur environnement social. Les données ont été recueillies auprès d'un échantillon de 564 hommes à l'aide de trois stratégies : bars gais ; " boule de neige " et journaux gais. Alors que 22 % des répondants déclarent que leurs droits ont déjà été lésés parce qu'ils ont été identifiés comme homosexuels, 11 % affirment qu'ils ont déjà fait face à des réactions négatives sans pour autant avoir été lésés. De plus, la participation à des activités d'organismes augmente en fonction du niveau de scolarité. La presse écrite, la télévision et la radio sont très utilisées pour se tenir informé sur le sida. Il s'agit donc de moyens importants à l'aide desquels son peut rejoindre tous les hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec d'autres hommes, particulièrement ceux qui ne s'identifient pas à la communauté gaie.The purpose of this study was to obtain better knowledge of the social environment of men who have sex with men. Data were collected from a sample of 564 men living in two large urban areas (Montréal and Québec City), as well as in other regions of Québec. These men were recruited by three strategies : gay bars ; “ snow ball ” and gay newspapers. Results show that participation in community organization activities increase with level of education. Overall, 22 % of men say they have been disadvantaged because of their sexual orientation and 11 % say they have received negative reactions without having their rights encroached upon. Newspapers, T.V. and radio are frequent sources of information about AIDS. These are important ways to reach men who have sex with men, specially those who do not identify with the gay community

Psychosocial determinants of fruit and vegetable intake in adult population: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accumulating evidence suggests that fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) plays a protective role against major diseases. Despite this protective role and the obesity pandemic context, populations in Western countries usually eat far less than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. In order to increase the efficiency of interventions, they should be tailored to the most important determinants or mediators of FVI. The objective was to systematically review social cognitive theory-based studies of FVI and to identify its main psychosocial determinants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Published papers were systematically sought using Current Contents (2007-2009) and Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Proquest and Thesis, as well as Cinhal (1980-2009). Additional studies were identified by a manual search in the bibliographies. Search terms included fruit, vegetable, behaviour, intention, as well as names of specific theories. Only studies predicting FVI or intention to eat fruits and vegetables in the general population and using a social cognitive theory were included. Independent extraction of information was carried out by two persons using predefined data fields, including study quality criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 23 studies were identified and included, 15 studying only the determinants of FVI, seven studying the determinants of FVI and intention and one studying only the determinants of intention. All pooled analyses were based on random-effects models. The random-effect R²observed for the prediction of FVI was 0.23 and it was 0.34 for the prediction of intention. Multicomponent theoretical frameworks and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) were most often used. A number of methodological moderators influenced the efficacy of prediction of FVI. The most consistent variables predicting behaviour were habit, motivation and goals, beliefs about capabilities, knowledge and taste; those explaining intention were beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences and perceived social influences.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that the TPB and social cognitive theory (SCT) are the preferable social cognitive theories to predict behaviour and TPB to explain intention. Efficacy of prediction was nonetheless negatively affected by methodological factors such as the study design and the quality of psychosocial and behavioural measures.</p

Psychosocial determinants of physical activity at school among Lebanese children : an application of the planned behavior theory

Introduction: Based on an extended version the theory of planned behavior, this survey, aimed to identify the psychosocial determinants of children’s physical activity at school and intention to engage in it. Methods: 276 fifth- and sixth-grade students from two schools in Lebanon completed a self-reported questionnaire assessing psychosocial and physical activity variables. Data were collected also on sociodemographic, anthropometric variables. Results: Determinants of physical activity at school were intention, perceived behavior control, selfidentity, perceived barriers and gender. Children’s beliefs associated with a positive intention were the following: to feel able to engage in physical activity at school when sport equipment is provided, despite an inclement weather, despite school restrictions on the use of physical activity facilities and equipment, and despite an inappropriate playground for some kinds of play. These should be targeted in physical activity interventions. Conclusions: These findings inform the design of culturally relevant school-based interventions in Arabic countries. Interventions should specifically support girls in recognition of the negative influence of gender on physical activity. They should also promote children’s self-identification as a sporty child and enhance children’s confidence in their capacity to engage in physical activity at school and to overcome barriers associated with i

Moderators of the intention-behaviour and perceived behavioural control-behaviour relationships for leisure-time physical activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intention is a key determinant of action. However, there is a gap between intention and behavioural performance that remains to be explained. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify moderators of the intention-behaviour and perceived behavioural control (PBC)- behaviour relationships for leisure-time physical activity.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>This was tested in reference to Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behaviour. A sample of 300 volunteers, 192 women and 108 men, aged 18 to 55, participated in the study. At baseline, the participants completed a self-administrated psychosocial questionnaire assessing Ajzen's theory variables (i.e., intention and perceived behavioural control). The behavioural measure was obtained by mail three months later.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Multiple hierarchical regression analyses indicated that age and annual income moderated the intention-behaviour and PBC-behaviour relationships. However, in the final model predicting behaviour (R²= .46), only the interaction term of PBC by annual income (β = .24, <it>p </it>= 0.0003) significantly contributed to the prediction of behaviour along with intention (β = .49, <it>p </it>= 0.0009) and past behaviour (β = .44, <it>p </it>< 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Physical activity promotion programs would benefit not only from focusing on increasing the intention of low intenders, but also from targeting factors that moderate the perceived behavioural control-behaviour relationships.</p

Eating behaviors of non-obese individuals with and without familial history of obesity

The aim of the present study was to examine whether eating behaviours and their subscales are associated with familial history of obesity (FHO) in a cohort of 326 non-obese men and women. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviours (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire) and dietary intakes (FFQ) have been determined in a sample of 197 women and 129 men. A positive FHO (FHOþ) was defined as having at least one obese first-degree relative and a negative FHO (FHO2) as no obese first-degree relative. Men with FHOþ had higher scores of cognitive dietary restraint and flexible restraint than men with FHO2. In women, those with FHOþ had a higher score of disinhibition than women with FHO2. In both men and women, eating behaviours were not significantly associated with the number of obese family members. However, having an obese mother was associated with higher scores of cognitive dietary restraint, flexible restraint and rigid restraint in women. These findings demonstrate that eating behaviours of non-obese subjects are different according to the presence or absence of obese family members. More specifically, having an obese mother is associated with a higher dietary restraint score in women