Theory of Planned Behavior

How to enhance personal control

Allow for individual input in designing health behavior interventions Educate individuals on overcoming health behavior barriers

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Attitude, subjective norms, and PBC (perceived behavioral control) combine to influence intention

Perceived Behavioral Control

Degree of personal control an individual perceives they have over performance of a behavior Beliefs a person has that will help or hinder performance of the behavior Takes into account internal and external control factors and barriers Not to be confused with self-efficacy

Examples of behavior not under voluntary control

Getting 8 hours of sleep because roommates are noisy Avoiding second hand smoke -- family members smoke in the house Eating low sodium foods -- mom shops and cooks

To make TRA more useful another construct was added

Perceived behavioral control -- and the theory was revised to the Theory of Planned Behavior

TPB Application

Strong sense of personal control (PBC) over behavior is essential for adherence

How TPB is different than TRA

TPB adds in perceived behavioral control (how much control you have on what you can do)

TRA: Intention not ideal construct for predicting behaviors that are

continuing or repeatable

Intention and PBC are

equally influential predictors of behavior

PBC influences behavior

independently and through intention

Attitude and subjective norms influences behavior only through

intention