The theory of planned behavior and binge drinking: assessing the impact of binge drinker prototypes

The present study assessed the value of including prototype perceptions within the theory of planned behavior (TPB) when predicting young people's binge drinking intentions and behavior. Undergraduate students (N=94) completed questionnaires assessing the main constructs of the TPB as well as measures of prototype evaluation and prototype similarity. Binge drinking behavior was assessed at one-week follow-up (N=79). The TPB explained 58% of the variance in binge drinking intentions and 22% of the variance in binge drinking at one-week follow-up. The prototype perception measures explained additional variance in both binge drinking intentions (DeltaR(2)=.04) and behavior (DeltaR(2)=.09), although only prototype similarity emerged as a significant predictor. In addition, a significant interaction was found between prototype similarity and subjective norm in relation to the prediction of binge drinking behavior, suggesting that the perception of supportive norms may enhance the impact of prototype perceptions on health-risk behavior. The implications of the findings for interventions to encourage more appropriate drinking behavior are outlined.     

The theory of planned behavior and binge drinking among undergraduate students: assessing the impact of habit strength

The present study sought to apply the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to the prediction of binge drinking intentions and behavior among undergraduate students and to test whether habit strength explains additional variance in binge drinking behavior. Undergraduate students (N = 137) completed measures of the TPB (i.e., attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy, perceived control, and intention) and habit strength (Self-Report Habit Index) in relation to binge drinking. Frequency of binge drinking was assessed one month later (n = 109). The TPB explained 75% of the variance in binge drinking intentions, with attitude and self-efficacy making significant contributions, and 35% of the variance in binge drinking behavior at one-month follow-up, with only intention making a significant contribution. Habit strength explained additional variance in binge drinking behavior (?R² = .06), although intention remained as a significant predictor. The results suggest that binge drinking among undergraduate students is under the control of both intentional and habitual processes. Interventions to reduce binge drinking should therefore focus on the motivational determinants (e.g., perceived positive and negative consequences) of binge drinking as well as the environmental factors (i.e., contextual cues) that promote binge drinking.     

Executive functioning and alcohol binge drinking in university students

Background

Binge drinking (BD) is prevalent among college students. Studies on alcoholism have shown that the prefrontal cortex is vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol. The prefrontal cortex undergoes both structural and functional changes during adolescence and young adulthood. Sex differences have been observed in brain maturation and in alcohol-induced damage. The objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between BD and cognitive functions subserved by the prefrontal cortex in male and female university students.

Methods

The sample comprised 122 undergraduates (aged 18 to 20 years): 62 BD (30 females) and 60 non-BD (29 females). Executive functions were assessed by WMS-III (Backward Digit Span and Backward Spatial Span), SOPT (abstract designs), Letter Fluency (PMR), BADS (Zoo Map and Key Search) and WCST-3.

Results

BD students scored lower in the Backward Digit Span Subtest and generated more perseverative responses in the SOPT In relation to interaction BD by sex, BD males scored lower in the Backward Digit Span test than BD females and non-BD males.

Conclusions

BD is associated with poorer performance of executive functions subserved by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The results do not support enhanced vulnerability of women to alcohol neurotoxic effects. These difficulties may reflect developmental delay or frontal lobe dysfunction.     

Personality and alcohol metacognitions as predictors of weekly levels of alcohol use in binge drinking university students

This study investigated the relative contribution of the Big 5 personality factors and alcohol metacognitions in predicting weekly levels of alcohol use in binge drinking university students. No research to date has investigated whether either of these constructs predicts levels of weekly alcohol use in binge drinkers. A sample of university students (n=142) who were classified as binge drinkers were administered the following self-report instruments: NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1992), Positive Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (PAMS; Spada & Wells, 2008), Negative Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (NAMS; Spada & Wells, 2008), and Khavari Alcohol Test (KAT; Khavari & Farber, 1978). Pearson product-moment correlations showed that weekly levels of alcohol use were negatively correlated with agreeableness and conscientiousness and positively correlated with positive alcohol metacognitions about cognitive self-regulation, negative alcohol metacognitions about uncontrollability and negative alcohol metacognitions about cognitive harm. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that conscientiousness and positive alcohol metacognitions about cognitive self-regulation were the only two significant predictors of weekly levels of alcohol use when controlling for gender. These findings show that being male, low on conscientiousness and high on positive alcohol metacognitions about cognitive self-regulation raises the risk for increased weekly levels of alcohol use in binge drinking university students. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Using an extended theory of planned behaviour to understand smoking amongst schoolchildren

This study employed an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to investigate the factors underlying smoking intentions and subsequent smoking behaviour three months later in a population of schoolchildren (N?=?741). The TPB provided good predictions of both intentions (R²?=?0.518; attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control significant) and smoking (R²?=?0.299; intentions and PBC significant). However, intention did not fully mediate the subjective norm–behaviour relationship. Moral norm explained additional variance in intentions but not smoking. Perceived family smoking and anticipated regret explained additional variance in both intentions and smoking. Perceived friends' smoking and past behaviour explained additional variance in smoking but not intentions. Findings are discussed in relation to how the TPB can further our understanding of adolescent smoking. Implications for additions to the theory and possible interventions are also considered.     

Predicting university undergraduates' binge-drinking behavior: a comparative test of the one- and two-component theories of planned behavior

This study provides a comparative test of the one- and two-component theories of planned behavior (TPB) in the context of university undergraduates' binge-drinking. Participants (N = 120) self-completed questionnaire measures of all TPB constructs at time 1 and subsequent binge-drinking at time 2 (two-weeks later). The data were analyzed using a combination of path analyses and bootstrapping procedures. Both models accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in behavior. However, the two-component TPB provided a significantly better fit to the data, with the total direct and indirect effects accounting for 90% of the variance. Intention was the only direct predictor of behavior. Instrumental attitude, affective attitude and self-efficacy had indirect effects. Although health interventions could usefully target these cognitive antecedents, simulation analyses, modeling the effects of cognition change on behavior, showed that only large-sized (0.8 SD) changes to affective attitude, or moderate-sized changes to all of these cognitions in combination were sufficient to reduce binge-drinking.     

Applying two behavioral theories to predict the willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine booster in the elderly: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 vaccination booster can effectively protect the elderly from infection while also lowering the risk of serious illness and death. However, barriers remain in willingness of the elderly to boost vaccination.ObjectiveUsing the protection motivation theory (PMT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), to study the factors that influence willingness of the elderly to get the COVID-19 vaccine booster.MethodsThe elderly who visited three randomly selected medical institutions in Nanjing's core urban region between March and April 2022 were chosen as study participants. A face-to-face survey was conducted using purposeful sampling and a self-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire contained sociodemographic characteristics, the elderly's willingness to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine booster, and psychosocial cognitive components based on the PMT and TPB. SmartPLS 3.0 was used to conduct structural equation modeling.Results214 participants were included in the analysis. The combined model of the two behavioral theories explained the willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine booster well with R² of 0.490. Self-efficacy (β = 0.315) was the strongest predictor of vaccine booster willingness. Subjective norms (β = 0.160), perceived severity (β = 0.157), and perceived vulnerability (β = 0.159) also showed positive effects on vaccine booster willingness, while response cost (β = ?0.143) had a negative effect on the willingness. No significant association between attitudes, response efficacy and the willingness was discovered.ConclusionThe willingness of the elderly to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster was affected by psychosocial cognitive factors. This study supports the applicability of the PMT and TPB models to interpret the willingness of the elderly in such areas.     

Child abuse and neglect: Relations to adolescent binge drinking in the national longitudinal study of Adolescent Health (AddHealth) Study

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between child maltreatment and adolescent binge drinking. Given that many victimized children have been maltreated in multiple ways, we examine the effects of co-occurrence of multiple types of maltreatment on adolescent binge drinking. We used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (AddHealth), which included a nationally representative sample of adolescents (n = 12,748). Adolescent binge drinking was defined as five or more drinks in a row at least 2–3 times per month in the past year. Among those reporting any maltreatment, 12.4% reported binge drinking compared to 9.9% among those reporting no maltreatment. Logistic regression models found that child maltreatment is a robust risk factor for adolescent binge drinking controlling for parental alcoholism. In particular, all types of or combinations of types of maltreatment were strongly associated with adolescent binge drinking, controlling for age, gender, race, parental alcoholism and monitoring. Research examining the effect of childhood maltreatment on later alcohol abuse needs to recognize the clustering effects of multiple types of childhood maltreatment on alcohol problems.     

Predicting cannabis use among adolescents in four European Countries: combining personal values and the theory of planned behaviour

Aims: The onset and maintenance of cannabis use have been explained with reference to the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). At the same time, personal values play an important role in determining appropriate behaviour during social interactions, and cannabis use is no exception. Combining Schwartz’s Theory of Human Values and the TPB offers a framework for identifying the relationship between adolescents’ personal values structure and cannabis use. The two main aims of this study are to: (1) test a predictive model that combines these two theories to explore the interaction of cultural and personal variables that influence cannabis use during adolescence; and (2) analyse the moderation effect of four European countries on the proposed model. 

Methods: A total of 3768 secondary school students from Spain, Italy, Romania and Portugal completed a questionnaire on personal values and the TPB applied to cannabis use intention. Direct and indirect effects were assessed using path analysis and moderation effects using multi-group analysis.

Results: Collectivistic values (i.e. conformity and tradition) were associated with low cannabis intention and use, individualistic values (i.e. hedonism and power) with higher cannabis intention and use. Regarding the moderation effect of countries, the effects of attitudes on intention and cannabis use were higher among Italian participants, who also showed a high prevalence of cannabis use. Meanwhile the effect of abstinence self-efficacy was lower among Romanian and Portuguese participants, both of whom reported lower cannabis use.

Conclusion: The results support the notion that personal values are background variables that affect cannabis use through the TPB variables.     

Determinants of change in the intention to use benzodiazepines

Objective: To examine attitudes and beliefs associated with changes in the intention to use benzodiazepines during the sixmonth period after first benzodiazepine use.Design: Populationbased 6month followup with 3 measurement points (baseline, 2 weeks after inclusion, 6 months after inclusion).Setting: Starting or initial benzodiazepine users were included during a period of 4 months from November 1994 in the only pharmacy of a Dutch community of 13,500 people.Measures: Variables proposed by the Model of Planned Behaviour and the Health Belief Model. Drug exposure data from automated pharmacy records.Results: At baseline, the intention to use benzodiazepines was primarily predicted by the perceived norm of the general practitioner regarding benzodiazepine use, and by the participants' own attitudes. After fourteen days, the determinants of change in the intention to use benzodiazepines were the initially perceived norm of the general practitioner and the change in the severity of participants' illnesses. After six months, the change in the severity of the illness and the perceived health benefits of benzodiazepines at the time of inclusion were the main determinants of the change in the intention to use benzodiazepines between the second and third measurement point. The intention to use benzodiazepines showed a decrease during followup. The three intention measures were significant predictors of actual benzodiazepine use during the year following baseline assessment.Conclusion: The study sheds light on interesting determinants of decrease or increase in the intention to use during the sixmonth period after first benzodiazepine use.     

Using the theory of reasoned action to determine physicians' intention to measure body mass index in children and adolescents

BackgroundOver the past few decades, childhood obesity has become a major public health issue in the United States. Numerous public and professional organizations recommend that physicians periodically screen for obesity in children and adolescents using the body mass index (BMI). However, studies have shown that physicians infrequently measure BMI in children and adolescents.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to use the theory of reasoned action (TRA) to explain physicians' intentions to measure BMI in children and adolescents. The study objectives were to (1) determine if attitude and subjective norm predict physicians' intention to measure BMI in children and adolescents; (2) determine if family physicians and pediatricians differ in terms of theoretical factors; and (3) assess differences in behavioral beliefs, outcome evaluations, normative beliefs, and motivation to comply among physicians based on their level of intention to measure BMI.MethodsA cross-sectional mailed survey of 2590 physicians (family physicians and pediatricians) practicing in 4 states was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire was designed that included items related to the TRA constructs. The association between the theoretical constructs was examined using correlation and regression analyses. Student's t test was used to determine differences between family physicians and pediatricians on theoretical constructs and to compare the underlying beliefs of nonintenders with intenders.ResultsThe usable response rate was 22.8%. Less than half (44%) of the physicians strongly intended to measure BMI in children and adolescents. Together, the TRA constructs attitude and subjective norm explained up to 49.9% of the variance in intention. Pediatricians had a significantly (P < .01) higher intention to measure BMI as compared to family physicians. There were significant (P < .01) behavioral and normative belief differences between physicians who intend and those who do not intend to measure BMI.ConclusionThe TRA is a useful model in identifying the factors that are associated with physicians' intentions to measure BMI.