Seasonal influenza vaccination rates are below the recommended targets, contributing to significant preventable harms. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), a widely applied model of motivation to ...respond to threats, may provide some insights into strategies to increase the rate of vaccine uptake. Yet, previous research has omitted some of the proposed predictors of intention when applying this model to vaccination.
The aim of the study is to assess the utility of the PMT in predicting intention to obtain the seasonal influenza vaccine. This study will be the first to examine the role of all six PMT constructs in predicting intention to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine.
A cross-sectional study of 547 US residents was conducted using Amazon MTurk.
All constructs show significant bivariate correlations in the direction expected from the prior literature. Further examination of the theory within a linear regression model, however, found that perceived costs of vaccinating (i.e., response costs) did not uniquely account for variance in intention. All other components, perceived severity of and susceptibility to influenza, the perceived benefits of not vaccinating (i.e., maladaptive response rewards), the self-efficacy to vaccinate, and the perceived efficacy of vaccinating in preventing influenza (i.e., response efficacy) were unique predictors of intention. Overall, the PMT accounted for 62% of the variance in intention to vaccinate.
The study is the first to investigate influenza vaccination using all six theorised predictors of intention from the PMT. The findings highlight the importance of the simultaneous inclusion of all components of the model in assessing their potential utility as targets for intervention. Importantly, the results identify under-utilised constructs in the promotion of vaccine uptake, such as maladaptive response rewards, which should be considered targets for future intervention.
•We examine intention to receive a seasonal flu vaccination among US adults.•Protection motivation theory constructs accounted for 62% of variance in intention.•Response efficacy is the strongest predictor of intention to vaccinate.•Response costs are not a predictor of intention to receive an influenza vaccination.•Studies should consider maladaptive response rewards involved with not vaccinating.
Climate change and related issues associated with the interaction of humans with the environment are of great importance in today's context. More and more research is focusing on understanding what ...can be done to prevent and reverse the effects of environmental problems through individual behaviours. Within psychology, there is a lack of synthesis of what drives pro-environmental behaviours in various paradigms and how they can be changed. The current study focuses on the application of protection motivation theory to predicting and changing pro-environmental behaviours using a systematic mapping approach.
A systematic screening of 132 databases was performed, resulting in the identification of 22 relevant studies with the total N = 12,827.
Investigation of the included research revealed a number of gaps in knowledge including: lack of experimental evidence with successful manipulations of protection motivation theory constructs; non-inclusion of all the aspects of the theory into studies; the absence of examination of the intention-behaviour relationship; the lack of consistency in operationalisation of protection motivation theory constructs; a focus on predominantly western high income societies, and the lack of uniformity in the definition of pro-environmental behaviours.
Future research should consider employing experimental designs with proper manipulation checks and longitudinal focus, as well as consistent definitions and operationalisations of relevant concepts, and exploring these constructs across different countries.
The purpose of this study was to systematically review the empirical literature on maternal bonding and associations with infant physical, psychological, and social development. Nineteen articles met ...inclusion criteria and were included in a qualitative synthesis (79 effect sizes); 15 articles were suitable for aggregation in a series of 14 meta‐analyses (51 effect sizes). All mean effects were in the expected direction, with higher maternal bonding contributing to infant developmental outcomes, including higher attachment quality (r = .35) and parent‐reported lower colic rating (r = .22), easier temperament (r = .19), and positive infant mood (r = .27). Consistent with theoretical explanatory models, the review provides support for the hypothesis that maternal bonding plays a role in fostering more optimal infant development. The review also identifies a paucity of empirical work on this topic and provides directions for future research.
The objective of this study was to examine the associations between personality, general and diabetes-specific well-being and self-efficacy, and weight management indicators, among adults with type 2 ...diabetes. In addition, to examine whether personality provides incremental explanation of variance in weight management indicators. Australian adults with type 2 diabetes (N = 270; 56% women; age: 61±12 years) were recruited via the national diabetes registry. An online survey included measures of: personality (HEXACO-PI-R), weight management indicators (physical activity, healthy diet, body mass index BMI), general well-being (WHO-5), general self-efficacy (GSE), diabetes distress (DDS) and diabetes self-efficacy (DMSES). Analyses included bivariate correlations and linear regression, adjusted for demographic, clinical, and psychological variables. All six personality domains showed significant correlation with at least one weight management indicator: physical activity with extraversion (r = .28), conscientiousness (r = .18) and openness (r = .19); healthy diet with honesty-humility (r = .19), extraversion (r = .24), and agreeableness (r = .14); and BMI with emotionality (r = .20) and extraversion (r = -.20). The strongest associations with general and diabetes-specific well-being and self-efficacy were apparent for extraversion, emotionality and conscientiousness (range: r = -.47-.66). Beyond covariates, personality domains explained additional variance for physical activity (Adjusted R.sup.2 = .31, R.sup.2 difference = .03, p = .03; openness: beta = .16, p = .02, emotionality: beta = .15, p = .04) and healthy diet (Adjusted R.sup.2 = .19, R.sup.2 difference = .03, p = .02; honesty-humility: beta = .20, p = .002, extraversion: beta = .19, p = .04) but not BMI. This study shows that personality is associated with weight management indicators and psychological factors among adults with type 2 diabetes. Further research is needed, including objective measurement of weight management indictors, to examine how personality influences the experience of type 2 diabetes.
Purpose
Increasing evidence suggests that various health behaviours are amenable to change following the induction of cognitive dissonance. This systematic review sought to evaluate the effectiveness ...and methodological quality of dissonance‐based health behaviour interventions and to explore identified sources of heterogeneity in intervention effects.
Methods
Bibliographic databases were searched for relevant articles from inception to March 2012. Only studies targeting non‐clinical health behaviour in non‐clinical populations were included in the review. One author extracted data and assessed quality of evidence and a second author verified all content.
Results
Reports of 20 studies were included. A variety of health behaviours and outcome measures were addressed across studies. Most studies produced one or more significant effects on measures of behaviour, attitude or intention. Across studies, methodological risk for bias was frequently high, particularly for selection bias. Gender and self‐esteem were identified as potential moderator variables.
Conclusions
The evidence for the effectiveness of dissonance‐based interventions was generally positive. The hypocrisy paradigm was found to be the most commonly applied research paradigm and was most effective at inciting change across a range of health behaviours. There was no observable link between type of target behaviour and positive outcomes. Researchers are encouraged to minimize potential for bias in future studies and explore moderators of the dissonance effect.
Statement of contribution
What is already known on this subject? A recent meta‐analysis indicates that dissonance‐based interventions primarily based on the induced compliance paradigm are effective for eating disorder prevention (Stice, Shaw, Becker, & Rohde, 2008, Prev. Sci., 9, 114). However, it is currently unclear whether such outcomes are generalizable to interventions targeting non‐clinical health behaviours such as smoking, sun protection and sexual risk taking. Other research indicates that studies based on the hypocrisy paradigm may lead to changes in non‐clinical health behaviours (Stone & Fernandez, 2008, Soc. Personal. Psychol. Compass, 2, 1024; Stone & Focella, 2011, Self Identity, 10, 295) although this literature lacks systematic evaluation of interventions across a range of experimental paradigms.
What does this study add?
The hypocrisy paradigm appears most effective in inciting change across a range of non‐clinical health behaviours.
The dissonance effect may be moderated by variables such as self‐esteem and gender.
Risk of bias needs to be minimised to increase the validity of studies within this topic area.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with the addition of risk perception could predict safe food handling in a sample of adolescents from the UK and ...Australia over and above the explanatory power of knowledge. It was hypothesized that knowledge would predict both intention to prepare food safely and self-reported food hygiene behavior. It was expected that attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and risk perception would predict intentions over and above knowledge. It was hypothesized that intentions and PBC would significantly predict food hygiene behavior over and above the influence of knowledge. Participants were recruited from secondary schools in Australia and the UK (n = 205). Knowledge alone predicted 4% of intention and 1.4% of behavior. TPB variable with the addition of risk perception accounted for an additional 60% of the variance in intention. PBC and intention accounted for an additional 24% of the variance in behavior. Knowledge was not a significant predictor of intention or behavior once other variables were added to the model these results provide further support for criticisms of interventions that have targeted food safety through knowledge based interventions. The results provide further support for the utility of the TPB in predicting safe food handling. The addition of risk perception added to the predictive utility of the model, suggesting that researchers may want to incorporate that factor into future considerations of food hygiene using the TPB.
► Knowledge predicts 4% of the variance in food hygiene intention. ► Together TPB and risk predict a further 60% of the variance in intention. ► Risk perception adds to the prediction of intention over TPB constructs. ► Knowledge predicts 1.4% of the variance in food hygiene behavior. ► Intention and PBC predict a further 24% of the variance in behavior.
Reducing individual fossil fuel use is an important component of climate change mitigation, but motivating behaviour change to achieve this is difficult. Protection motivation theory (PMT) is a ...psychological framework that outlines the conditions under which people are more likely to be persuaded to take a specific response or action. This experimental study investigated the impact six different protection motivation theory-based messages had on intention to reduce fossil fuel use in a sample 3803 US adults recruited via Amazon Mechanical (MTurk). Only messages targeting self-efficacy and response efficacy increased intention to reduce fossil fuel use relative to the control message. However, only the self-efficacy message had an impact on its target construct (i.e. self-efficacy). As such, the mechanism for action for the response efficacy message is unclear. Furthermore, while the current study demonstrates that many of the PMT-related messages did not achieve changes in intention, this it is still possible that messages targeting these constructs could still lead to changes in intention in other modalities and when other message content is used. Given the urgency of responding to climate change, the potential for additive benefits of combining effective PMT-based messages should be considered irrespective of their mechanism as should research focused on how to effectively target other key PMT constructs.
Objectives
This meta‐analysis examined the effects of psychotherapy for bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge‐eating disorder (BED) on self‐esteem improvement.
Method
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ...psychological treatments that assessed self‐esteem change in eating disorders were included. Thirty‐four RCTs were included; most sampled BED and then BN. Hedge's g effects were entered into random effects models.
Results
Psychotherapy for BN led to significantly greater post‐treatment improvements in self‐esteem than control conditions (g = 0.45; 95% CI 0.17, 0.73). This effect was smaller when only analysing low risk of bias trials (g = 0.28; 95% CI 0.05, 0.51). Psychotherapy for BED also led to significantly greater post‐treatment improvements in self‐esteem than controls (g = 0.20; 95% CI 0.05, 0.35), with some evidence that guided self‐help was associated with the largest effects. This effect, however, was overestimated after adjustment for publication bias (g = 0.10; 95% CI −0.05, 0.26). There was no evidence that cognitive‐behavioural therapy was superior to non‐cognitive‐behavioural therapy interventions in improving self‐esteem. There was no relationship between symptom improvement and self‐esteem improvement in a meta‐regression.
Conclusions
Psychotherapy may lead to small improvements in self‐esteem in BN and BED. Additional RCTs with follow‐up assessments are required to make more definitive conclusions about the effects of psychotherapy for eating disorders on self‐esteem in the long‐term.
Research consistently shows that right‐wing ideological adherents are more likely to deny climate change. However, less is known about how right‐wing ideological subtypes are uniquely related to ...climate change denial, as well as what explains these relationships. This study examines whether threat to the socioeconomic system in the form of climate change mitigation policies, referred to as Climate Change Mitigation Threat (CCMT), mediates the relationships between Right‐Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) subtypes and four forms of climate change denial (existence denial, human cause denial, impact denial and climate science denial). U.S. participants (N = 334; Mage = 34.70, SD = 5.98) were recruited via Amazon MTurk. When shared variance in the predictors was accounted for, we found that: (a) Conventionalism (RWA‐C) positively predicted all forms of climate change denial; (b) Dominance (SDO‐D) positively predicted existence denial; (c) Anti‐Egalitarianism (SDO‐E) positively predicted both human cause and impact denial; and (d) Aggression (RWA‐A) negatively predicted existence denial. All significant direct relationships were partially mediated by CCMT, except for the direct paths between SDO‐D and existence denial, and RWA‐A and existence denial. These findings suggest that right‐wing adherents who conform to societal norms and prefer unequal social systems may deny climate change partly due to a perception that mitigation strategies proposed to combat climate change threaten the existing socioeconomic system.
Adherence to a strict gluten-free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease. Nonetheless, many individuals with the disease struggle to achieve and maintain strict adherence. While the theory of ...planned behaviour is useful for predicting gluten-free diet adherence, an intention–behaviour gap remains. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of habit and perceived behavioural control in moderating the intention–behaviour relationship in gluten-free diet adherence. A significant three-way interaction was found such that the association between intention and adherence was dependent on both perceived behavioural control and habit. Implications for both theory and intervention design are discussed.
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