Habit as both a direct cause of intention to use a condom and as a moderator of the attitude-intention and subjective norm-intention relations

The Moderating Effect of Perceived Policy Effectiveness in Residents’ Waste Classification Intentions: A Study of Bengbu, China

The Chinese government is promoting a waste classification policy to solve the increasingly serious issue of cities being besieged by waste. Only few studies investigate whether residents’ understanding of garbage classification policy has an impact on their garbage classification behaviour and the nature of such impact. The purposes of this study are twofold: first, to explore conceptually the mechanism behind any moderating effects of perceived policy effectiveness (PPE) on waste classification and, second, to examine empirically if and how PPE influences the relationships between attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), perceived behaviour control (PBC), awareness of consequence (AC) and waste classification intention (WCI). The conceptual model of the study is developed by combining insights from the theory of planned behaviour, norm activation theory and value–belief–norm theory. A total of 351 questionnaires were administered in person to households in Bengbu, China. The results based on structural equation modelling with partial least squares show that PPE negatively moderates the relationship between AC and WCI. AC is more strongly related with the intention to classify waste when PPE is weaker. Likewise, when PPE is higher, people’s awareness of consequences becomes less important for WCI. The findings have significant implications in policymakers’ developing guidelines and offer a framework for implementing more effective waste classification policy.

A Study of Consumer Repurchase Behaviors of Smartphones Using Artificial Neural Network

This study analyzed consumer intention to repurchase a smartphone, using an analysis of previous research and suggesting this as a research model. To this end, factors influencing “intention to repurchase” the smartphone were derived as social influence, consumer satisfaction, emotional loyalty, and habit. In addition, statistical analysis was conducted to investigate consumer repurchase intentions and the causal relationships. It is also possible to investigate whether consumer habits are linked to repurchases by analyzing their psychological inclinations; therefore, in this study, 390 people who repurchased a smartphone over the past two years were surveyed, and data were collected. This study analyzed the causal relationships among the factors using SPSS 24.0. Moreover, the causal relationship analysis was enhanced using the artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm. With multiple regression analysis and the ANN algorithm, consumer satisfaction (0.71), emotional loyalty (0.108), and social influence (0.062) were determined to affect the intention to repurchase. This means that the ANN algorithm can be used over multiple regression analysis and improve the results of the analysis. In addition, this study also provided practitioners with a way to improve their understanding of consumer behavior intention to repurchase smartphones.

Determinants and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Policy Effectiveness on Residents' Separation Intention for Rural Household Solid Waste

Currently, villages “besieged with garbage” have become a serious problem in rural areas of China. Separation of rural residential solid waste (RRSW) is one of the main strategies for waste reduction. Although previous studies have analyzed the social and psychological motivations of residents’ separation intention for municipal solid waste (MSW), little attention has been paid to the situation in rural areas. This paper investigates key factors influencing rural residents’ separation intention, as well as analyzing the moderating effects of perceived policy effectiveness on the relationship between the determinants and the intention, using survey data of 538 rural residents in the province of Sichuan in China. The results show that all the proposed key factors influence the separation intention significantly. Furthermore, the policies were divided into two types and the moderating effects were tested for each type. The results show that the perceived effectiveness of both the inducement policy and the capacity building policy moderated the relationship between attitude and separation intention positively, while the perceived effectiveness of the inducement policy moderated the relationship between subjective norms and intention negatively. The findings provide insightful information for policymakers to design effective RRSW separation policies.

Understanding microblogging continuance intention

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain how individuals form microblogging habits and why they continue to use microblogs from the perspective of direction social networks.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the social network theory and the social presence theory, the authors develop a theoretical framework to explain how individuals form microblogging habits and why they continue to use microblogs. To test the proposed model and examine its external validity, the authors collected data from two microblogs: Twitter and Sina Weibo.

Findings

Satisfaction and habit have a significant influence on microblogging continuance intention. Whereas, users’ microblogging habits are developed by two key factors – satisfaction and frequency of past behavior – that are further determined by social presence and social network centrality.

Research limitations/implications

Larger sample size with diverse populations is highly recommended for future studies. In addition, exploring the distinct technical functionalities of microblogs when conceptualizing habit formation would be of benefit in future studies.

Practical implications

In this study, it was found that social presence increases both the satisfaction of users and the frequency of past use behavior. Hence, microblog designers should provide users with greater freedom to modify the form and content of their interface, and enable these modifications to be visible in real time to increase the interactivity of microblogs.

Originality/value

In contrast to past studies that have largely neglected the impacts of the directed social network structure, this study aims to focus on microblogging continuance intention from the directed social network perspective. The results from two independent data sets converge on the conclusion that users’ continuance intention to use is affected by both their conscious evaluations (i.e. satisfaction) and unconscious reactions (i.e. habit).

Predictors of smoking cessation in Taiwan: using the theory of planned behavior

This study aimed to explore the factors predicting the intention to quit smoking and the subsequent behavior 6 months later using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Data were obtained from 145 smokers who attended a smoking cessation clinic in a community hospital. All participants completed a questionnaire which included demographic information, TPB-based items, perceived susceptibility and previous attempts to quit. The actual quitting behavior was obtained by follow-up phone calls 6 months later. The TPB constructs explained 34% of the variance in intention to quit smoking. By adding perceived susceptibility, the explained variance was significantly improved to 40%. The most important predictors were perceived behavior control and perceived susceptibility, followed by attitude. Subjective norm did not contribute to the prediction of intention. Attitude and perceived behavior control contributed to the prediction of actual quitting behavior, but intention, subjective norm and perceived susceptibility did not. Our findings support that the TPB is generally a useful framework to predict the intention to quit smoking in Taiwan. The inclusion of perceived susceptibility improved the prediction of intention. With regards to successfully quitting, attitude and perceived behavior control played more crucial roles than other TPB constructs. Smoking cessation promotion initiatives focusing on reinforcing cessation belief, enhancing a smoker's perception of their capability to quit smoking, and persuading smokers that they can overcome cessation barriers to cessation could make subsequent interventions more effective.

Associations between neighbourhood and household environmental variables and fruit consumption: exploration of mediation by individual cognitions and habit strength in the GLOBE study

OBJECTIVE

The present study examined associations of several home and neighbourhood environmental variables with fruit consumption and explored whether these associations were mediated by variables derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and by habit strength.

DESIGN

Data of the Dutch GLOBE study on household and neighbourhood environment, fruit intake and related factors were used, obtained by self-administered questionnaires (cross-sectional), face-to-face interviews and audits.

SETTING

The city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands

SUBJECTS

Adults (n 333; mean age 58 years, 54% female).

RESULTS

Multiple mediation analyses were conducted using regression analyses to assess the association between environmental variables and fruit consumption, as well as mediation of these associations by TPB variables and by habit strength. Intention, perceived behaviour control, subjective norm and habit strength were associated with fruit intake. None of the neighbourhood environmental variables was directly or indirectly associated with fruit intake. The home environmental variable 'modelling behaviour by family members' was indirectly, but not directly, associated with fruit intake. Habit strength and perceived behaviour control explained most of the mediated effect (71.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Modelling behaviour by family members was indirectly associated with fruit intake through habit strength and perceived behaviour control. None of the neighbourhood variables was directly or indirectly, through any of the proposed mediators, associated with adult fruit intake. These findings suggest that future interventions promoting fruit intake should address a combination of the home environment (especially modelling behaviour by family members), TPB variables and habit strength for fruit intake.

Beyond frequency: Habit as mental construct

Progress in habit theory can be made by distinguishing habit from frequency of occurrence, and using independent measures for these constructs. This proposition was investigated in three studies using a longitudinal, cross-sectional and experimental design on eating, mental habits and word processing, respectively. In Study 1, snacking habit and past snacking frequency independently predicted later snacking behaviour, while controlling for the theory of planned behaviour variables. Habit fully mediated the effect of past on later behaviour. In Study 2, habitual negative self-thinking and past frequency of negative self-thoughts independently predicted self-esteem and the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms. In Study 3, habit varied as a function of experimentally manipulated task complexity, while behavioural frequency was held constant. Taken together, while repetition is necessary for habits to develop, these studies demonstrate that habit should not be equated with frequency of occurrence, but rather should be considered as a mental construct involving features of automaticity, such as lack of awareness, difficulty to control and mental efficiency.

The theory of planned behaviour and binge drinking: Assessing the moderating role of past behaviour within the theory of planned behaviour

A sample of 398 undergraduate students completed questionnaires assessing the main constructs of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) in relation to binge drinking, as well as past binge drinking behaviour. Of these, 273 were followed up at 1 week. Regression analyses revealed attitude, self-efficacy, and perceived control (negative relationship) to be predictive of binge drinking intentions. Intention and self-efficacy were, in turn, predictive of binge drinking at 1-week follow-up. Past behaviour was found to explain additional variance in intention and behaviour. In addition, past behaviour was found to moderate the attitude-intention and intention-behaviour relationships, such that weaker relationships were observed with increasing frequency of past behaviour. The results are discussed in relation to the need to develop and test alternative measures of habit. The implications of the findings for interventions to encourage more appropriate drinking behaviour are outlined.

The social cognitive determinants of offending drivers' speeding behaviour

The efficacy of an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was tested in relation to offending drivers' (N=1403) speeding behaviour. Postal questionnaires were issued at Time 1 to measure intention, instrumental and affective attitude, subjective and descriptive norm, self-efficacy, perceived controllability, moral norm, anticipated regret, self-identity, and past speeding behaviour. At Time 2 (6 months later), subsequent speeding behaviour was measured, again using self-completion postal questionnaires. The extended TPB accounted for 68% of the variation in intention and 51% of the variation in subsequent behaviour. The independent predictors of intention were instrumental attitude, affective attitude, self-efficacy, moral norm, anticipated regret and past behaviour. The independent predictors of behaviour were intention, self-efficacy, anticipated regret and past behaviour. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in relation to targeting road safety interventions.

Identifying the psychosocial correlates of condom use by female sex workers in Hong Kong

This study examined factors affecting condom use by Hong Kong female sex workers when they have sex with their clients and steady partners. Our respondents consisted of 109 active female sex workers, mainly streetwalkers or sex workers who worked in villas. During a 30-minute interview, respondents were interviewed individually and were asked questions regarding their condom use practice. These questions were designed to measure various factors affecting their condom use practice, including attitudes toward condom use, normative pressure, perceived behavioural control, perceived AIDS risks, past condom use behaviour, and future condom use intentions with respect to the two types of partners. Multiple regression analyses reveal that perceived behavioural control is the most important factor associated with these respondents' future condom use across the two types of partners. Perceived AIDS risk is the additional predictor for condom use with clients, while normative pressure is the additional predictor for condom use with steady partners. Past condom use behaviour also provided significant additional prediction for both types of partners, implying the habitual nature of condom use among our respondents. These results have significant implications for designing intervention programmes targeting at increasing condom use by female sex workers in Hong Kong.

An empirical investigation of habitual usage and past usage on technology acceptance evaluations and continuance intention

Although much research has examined information technology (IT) usage that involves deliberate evaluation and decision-making, we know less about automatic use that occurs spontaneously with little conscious effort. In this study we have investigated this issue by studying how habitual usage and past usage may influence the predicting power of perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) on intention. Using 232 cross-sectional responses from subjects who have continuously used the Google search engine, the results show that as individuals get into the habit of continuously using a system, the predicting power of PU and PEOU on intention is diluted by the addition of either habitual usage or past usage. This indicates that the stronger the habitual use of the Google search engine, the less conscious planning is involved, and the relationship between subjects' evaluations of PU/PEOU and their intention to use weakens. Furthermore, our study shows that past usage, often employed as a proxy of habitual usage, demonstrates a similar effect but differs in the predicting power from habitual usage. This result suggests that researchers may employ habitual usage for studies of post-adoption phenomenon concerning continuous information system usage.

Predictors of condom use self-efficacy in an ethnically diverse university sample

A multitude of factors influence condom use self-efficacy, including age, gender, ethnicity, condom use attitudes and barriers, sexual experience, and partner characteristics. The current study integrated past research by evaluating these factors in a large, ethnically diverse university sample of women and men (N=665). The role of gender on condom use and sexuality variables was assessed across ethnic groups. Hierarchical linear regressions were then calculated to explain levels of condom use self-efficacy using the hypothesized sexual predictors in nonvirgin, sexually active, and recent condom use subsamples. Predictors explained 18-45% of variance in condom use self-efficacy. Findings suggest that a few key variables accounted for the majority of variance in condom use self-efficacy: condom use attitudes, condom use barriers, satisfaction with sexual communication, anticipated number of sexual partners, one-time sexual encounters, and ethnic identity. Significant gender differences emerged in condom use self-efficacy, condom use attitudes, and condom use behaviors. Ethnic differences were found in range of sexual experience and sexual partner characteristics. It is recommended that future studies examining sexual risk behavior incorporate the diverse sexual factors that affect condom use self-efficacy.

Some problems with social cognition models: a pragmatic and conceptual analysis

Empirical articles published between 1997 and 2001 from 4 health psychology journals that tested or applied 1 or more social cognition models (theory of reasoned action, theory of planned behavior, health belief model, and protection motivation theory; N = 47) were scrutinized for their pragmatic and conceptual basis. In terms of their pragmatic basis, these 4 models were useful for guiding research. The analysis of their conceptual basis was less positive. First, these models do not enable the generation of hypotheses because their constructs are unspecific; they therefore cannot be tested. Second, they focus on analytic truths rather than synthetic ones, and the conclusions resulting from their application are often true by definition rather than by observation. Finally, they may create and change both cognitions and behavior rather than describe them.

Nutrition guidance in Dutch family practice: behavioral determinants of reduction of fat consumption

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that the psychosocial determinants attitude, self-efficacy, subjective norm, and health threat are important in predicting intention to change fat consumption. However, the role of habit in relation to these determinants is still largely unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess whether and how habit influences intention in relation to attitude, self-efficacy, subjective norm, and health threat.

DESIGN

Cross-sectionally, we studied the self-reported psychosocial determinants and intention of 105 (52 intervention, 53 control) patients who participated in a family practice-based tailored nutrition counseling intervention study for lowering cardiovascular risk. Fat intake 15 mo before the assessment of psychosocial determinants was used as a measure of habit. We used logistic regression analyses to develop a model predicting intention to change fat consumption.

RESULTS

Our regression model explained 43% of the variance in intention. Patients who perceived higher subjective norm or more social support had a higher intention. Habit was a significant predictor of intention in interaction with self-efficacy and health threat. Attitude, health threat, age, and group membership (ie, whether patients had been in the intervention group or the control group of the intervention study) were also included in the regression model.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that habit in addition to subjective norm and the other more frequently investigated psychosocial determinants are important in predicting intention to change fat consumption. To achieve sustainable health improvement through nutrition education programs, these programs should therefore start focusing more on subjective norm and habit.