Abstract
Background
Despite strong support for predictive validity of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) substantial variance in both intention and behavior is unaccounted for by the model's predictors. The present study tested the extent to which habit strength augments the predictive validity of the TPB in relation to a currently under-researched behavior that has important health implications, namely children's active school travel.
Method
Participants (N = 126 children aged 8-9 years; 59 % males) were sampled from five elementary schools in the west of Scotland and completed questionnaire measures of all TPB constructs in relation to walking to school and both walking and car/bus use habit. Over the subsequent week, commutingsteps on school journeys were measured objectively using an accelerometer. Hierarchical multipleregressions were used to test the predictive utility of the TPB and habit strength in relation to bothintention and subsequent behavior.
Results
The TPB accounted for 41 % and 10 % of the variance in intention and objectively measuredbehavior, respectively. Together, walking habit and car/bus habit significantly increased the proportionof explained variance in both intention and behavior by 6 %. Perceived behavioral control and bothwalking and car/bus habit independently predicted intention. Intention and car/bus habit independentlypredicted behavior.
Conclusions
The TPB significantly predicts children's active school travel. However, habit strengthaugments the predictive validity of the model. The results indicate that school travel is controlled byboth intentional and habitual processes. In practice, interventions could usefully decrease the habitualuse of motorized transport for travel to school and increase children's intention to walk (via increases in perceived behavioral control and walking habit, and decreases in car/bus habit). Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for changing these antecedents of children's active school travel.
Despite strong support for predictive validity of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) substantial variance in both intention and behavior is unaccounted for by the model's predictors. The present study tested the extent to which habit strength augments the predictive validity of the TPB in relation to a currently under-researched behavior that has important health implications, namely children's active school travel.
Method
Participants (N = 126 children aged 8-9 years; 59 % males) were sampled from five elementary schools in the west of Scotland and completed questionnaire measures of all TPB constructs in relation to walking to school and both walking and car/bus use habit. Over the subsequent week, commutingsteps on school journeys were measured objectively using an accelerometer. Hierarchical multipleregressions were used to test the predictive utility of the TPB and habit strength in relation to bothintention and subsequent behavior.
Results
The TPB accounted for 41 % and 10 % of the variance in intention and objectively measuredbehavior, respectively. Together, walking habit and car/bus habit significantly increased the proportionof explained variance in both intention and behavior by 6 %. Perceived behavioral control and bothwalking and car/bus habit independently predicted intention. Intention and car/bus habit independentlypredicted behavior.
Conclusions
The TPB significantly predicts children's active school travel. However, habit strengthaugments the predictive validity of the model. The results indicate that school travel is controlled byboth intentional and habitual processes. In practice, interventions could usefully decrease the habitualuse of motorized transport for travel to school and increase children's intention to walk (via increases in perceived behavioral control and walking habit, and decreases in car/bus habit). Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for changing these antecedents of children's active school travel.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 65 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Volume | 9 |
| Early online date | 30 May 2012 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Bibliographical note
PMID: 22647194 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC3419676 Free PMC ArticleKeywords
- theory of planned behavior
- habitat
- active school travel
- walking
- children