A test of the theory of planned behavior for two health-related practices

This study tested the utility of the theory of planned behavior in predicting two health-related behaviors. The first behavior (breast self-exam) is relatively simple, while the second (exercise) is complex. Data were utilized from health risk appraisals completed on 185 telephone company employees. Attitude, normative belief, and self-efficacy measures served to predict behavioral intention and subsequent attempt to change both the behaviors. As tested in path models, the results for breast self-examination were closer to the results expected from theory, with less good fit for exercise. Different models were developed for each behavior, although the self-efficacy measures made independent contributions to each. While the theory of planned behavior received support in the data, the results suggest that different models may appropriate for different types of behavior.