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Social Cognitive Theory as a Framework to Explain Intentions to Practice Healthy Eating Behaviors 1
Author(s) -
Sheeshka Judy D.,
Woolcott Donna M.,
Mackin Neil J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1993.tb01047.x
Subject(s) - psychology , social psychology , cognition , social cognitive theory , psychiatry
Our focus in this study was the observed gap between informed awareness and the intention to act. We used elements of social cognitive theory to develop a theoretical model of six psychosocial factors hypothesized to influence the intention to adopt healthy eating behaviors. Survey data from 490 white‐collar employees were analyzed using a Linear Structural Relations (LISREL) program and a stacked model. The overall fit of the model to one half of the data was excellent, x 2 (6, 237) = 3.79, p = 0.71, and the model was successfully replicated with the second half of the data x 2 (28, 249) = 28.68, p = 0.43. Our model suggests that self‐efficacy expectations (a) partially depend on the perceived likelihood of an outcome; (b) act as a conduit for the effects of media, disincentives, and outcome expectancy; and (c) have powerful direct influences on intentions. As expected, outcome expectancy adds little to the prediction of intentions.