The Importance of Affective Beliefs and Attitudes in the Theory of Planned Behavior: Predicting Intention to Increase Physical Activity1
Corresponding Author
David P. French
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to David P. French, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorStephen Sutton
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorSusie J. Hennings
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorJo Mitchell
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorNicholas J. Wareham
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorSimon Griffin
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorWendy Hardeman
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorAnn Louise Kinmonth
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
David P. French
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to David P. French, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorStephen Sutton
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorSusie J. Hennings
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorJo Mitchell
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorNicholas J. Wareham
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorSimon Griffin
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorWendy Hardeman
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorAnn Louise Kinmonth
Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorDavid French was a Welcome Trust Training Fellow in Health Services Research (reference #060634/Z/00/Z) while this work was being conducted.
Abstract
Standard theory of planned behavior (TPB) questions to elicit salient behavioral beliefs may elicit instrumental consequences of behavior, and overlook affective consequences. Two hundred thirteen English adults (35 to 75 years of age) completed a questionnaire that contained closed measures of TPB constructs, and open-ended questions that asked not only about advantages and disadvantages, but also what respondents would like or enjoy and dislike or hate about being more physically active. Beliefs elicited by affective questions were associated more strongly with a closed affective attitude scale. Beliefs elicited by instrumental questions were associated more strongly with a closed instrumental attitude scale. Closed measures of the standard TPB variables explained 48% of the variance in intention to increase physical activity, while affective attitude explained an additional 11% of the variance. Applications of the TPB should consider affective and not just instrumental determinants of behavior.
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