Premium
A Comparison of Health Behavior Constructs: Social Psychological Predictors of AIDS‐Preventive Behavioral Intentions
Author(s) -
Smith Brian N.,
Stasson Mark F.
Publication year - 2000
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.1559-1816.2000.tb02490.x
Subject(s) - psychology , theory of planned behavior , condom , theory of reasoned action , health belief model , social psychology , social cognitive theory , perceived control , risk perception , cognition , clinical psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , control (management) , public health , health education , perception , psychiatry , medicine , management , nursing , neuroscience , economics , syphilis , family medicine
The present study focused on predicting AIDS‐preventive behavioral intentions (i. e., intentions to discuss AIDS‐related information and to use condoms) from constructs taken from the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action/planned behavior, and social cognitive theory. Questionnaire data were collected from 124 undergraduates using scales from previously published work as well as some new measures designed for this study. Perceived behavioral control, perceived risk, attitudes, self‐efficacy, subjective norms, negative expected outcomes, and perceived severity of HIV infection were correlated with at least one intention measure; but regression analyses showed that perceived behavioral control was the strongest independent predictor of condom use intentions and of intentions to discuss AIDS information with a partner. Implications for theory and application are discussed.