In a test of the predictive utility of the theory of planned behaviour alone and in conjunction with a number of additional variables, 114 participants completed questionnaires measuring predictor variables and, three weeks later, reported exercise. The results of the present study provide partial support for the theory. Past behaviour was the most predictive variable. Subjective norm was not a significant predictor of intention to exercise. Attitude towards exercise was also not a predictor of exercise intention. Self-monitoring acted as a moderator of the attitude–intention relationship. Perceived behavioural control was not a significant predictor of exercise behaviour, while exercise intentions were only weak predictors. The results also suggested that perceived behavioural control and perceived barriers are not equivalent, and should be treated as separate variables that contribute independently to the predictive ability of the model. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behaviour. In J. Kuhl & J. Beckmann (Eds.), Action control: From cognition to behaviour(pp. 11–39). Heidelberg: Springer.
2.
Ajzen, I. (1988). Attitudes, personality, and behaviour. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
3.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.
4.
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
5.
Ajzen, I., & Madden, T. J. (1986). Prediction of goal directed behavior: Attitudes, intentions, and perceived behavioral control. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 22, 453–474.
6.
Ajzen, I., & Timko, C. (1986). Correspondence between health attitudes and behaviour. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 7, 259–276.
7.
Ajzen, I., Timko, C., & White, J. (1982). Self-monitoring and the attitude–behaviour relation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42(3), 426–435.
8.
American College of Sports Medicine. (1991). Position stand: The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness in healthy adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 22, 265–274.
9.
Beck, L., & Ajzen, I. (1991). Predicting dishonest actions using the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Research in Personality, 25, 285–301.
10.
Bem, S. L. (1977). On the utility of alternative procedures for assessing psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45(2), 196–205.
11.
Bem, S. L. (1981). Bem Sex-Role Inventory: Professional Manual. San Francisco, CA: Consulting Psychologists' Press.
12.
Biddle, S., Goudas, M., & Page, A. (1994). Social-psychological predictors of self-reported actual and intended physical activity in a university workforce sample. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 28(3), 160–163.
13.
Boyd, B., & Wandersman, A. (1991). Predicting under-graduate condom use with the Fishbein and Ajzen and the Triandis Attitude–Behaviour Models: Implications for public health interventions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 21, 1810–1830.
14.
Cate, R., & Sugawara, A. I. (1986). Sex role orientation and dimensions of self-esteem among middle adolescents. Sex Roles, 15, 145–158.
15.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. (1975). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. New York: Erlbaum.
16.
Collete, M., Godin, G., Bradet, R., & Gionet, N. J. (1995). Active living in communities: Understanding the intention to take up physical activity as an everyday way of life. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 85, 418-421.
17.
Colley, A., Roberts, N., & Chipps, A. (1985). Sex role identity, personality and participation in team and individual sports by males and females. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 16, 103–112.
18.
Colley, A. M., Gale, M. T., & Harris, T. A. (1994). Effects of gender role identity and experience on computer attitude components. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 10(2), 129–137.
19.
Courneya, K. S. (1992). Understanding readiness for regular physical activity in older individuals: An application of the theory of planned behaviour. Health Psychology, 14, 80–87.
20.
Courneya, K. S., & McAuley, E. (1995). Cognitive mediators of the social influence–exercise adherence relationship: A test of the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 18, 499–515.
21.
Dishman, R. K. (1988). Exercise adherence: Its impact on public health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
22.
Dzewaltowski, D. A., Noble, J. M., & Shaw, M. (1990). Physical activity participation: social cognitive theory versus the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 12, 388–405.
23.
Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behaviour: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
24.
Gatch, C. L., & Kendzierski, D. (1990). Predicting exercise intentions: The theory of planned behavior. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 61(1), 100–102.
25.
Godin, G., Colantonio, A., Davis, G. M., Shephard, R. J., & Simard, C. (1986). Prediction of leisure time exercise behaviour among a group of lower-limb disabled adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 42, 272–279.
26.
Godin, G., & Kok, G. (1996). The Theory of Planned Behavior: A review of its applications to health-related behaviors. American Journal of Health Promotion, 11(2), 87–98.
27.
Godin, G., Maticka-Tyndale, E., Adrien, A., Manson-Singer, S., Williams, D., & Cappon, P. (1996). Cross-cultural testing of three social cognitive theories: An application to condom use. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 26(17), 1556–1586.
28.
Godin, G., & Shepherd, R. J. (1987). Psychosocial factors influencing intentions to exercise in a group of individuals ranging from 45 to 74 years old. In M. E. Berridge & G. R. Ward (Eds.) International Perspectives on Adapted Physical Activity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.
29.
Godin, G., Valois, P., Jobin, J., & Ross, A. (1991). Prediction of intention to exercise of individuals who have suffered from coronary heart disease. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47(6), 762–772.
30.
Godin, G., Valois, P., & Lepage, L. (1993). The pattern of influence of perceived behavioural control upon exercising behaviour: An application of Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 16, 81–101.
31.
Hausenblas, H. A., Carron, A. V., & Mack, D. E. (1997). Application of the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour to exercise behaviour: A meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 19, 36–51.
32.
Kashima, Y., Gallois, C., & McCamish, M. (1993). The theory of reasoned action and co-operative behaviour: It takes two to use a condom. British Journal of Social Psychology, 25, 67–70.
33.
Kimiecik, J. (1992). Predicting vigorous physical activity of corporate employees: Comparing the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 14, 192–206.
34.
Lennox, R. D., & Wolfe, R. N. (1984). Revision of the Self-Monitoring Scale. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46(6), 1349–1364.
35.
Long, B. (1989). Sex-role orientation, coping strategies, and self-efficacy of women in traditional and non-traditional occupations. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 13, 307–324.
36.
Madden, T. J., Ellen, P. S., & Ajzen, I. (1992). A comparison of the theory of planned behaviour and the theory of reasoned action. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(1), 3–9.
37.
Manstead, A. S. R., & Parker, D. L. (1995). Evaluating and extending the theory of planned behaviour. European Review of Social Psychology, 6, 69–95.
38.
Manstead, A. S. R., Proffitt, C., & Smart, J. L. (1983). Predicting and understanding mothers' infant-feeding intentions and behaviour: Testing the theory of reasoned action. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 657–671.
39.
Norman, P., & Smith, L. (1995). The theory of planned behaviour and exercise: an investigation into the role of prior behaviour, behavioural intentions and attitude variability. European Journal of Social Psychology, 12(4), 403–415.
40.
Nucifora, J., Gallois, C., & Kashima, Y. (1993). Influences on condom use among undergraduates: Testing the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour. In D.J. Terry, C. Galois, & M. McGamish (Eds.), The Theory of Reasoned Action: Its application to AIDS-preventive behaviour. Oxford: Pergamon.
41.
Parker, D., Manstead, A. S. R., & Stradling, S. G. (1995). Extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour: The Role of Personal Norm. British Journal of Social Psychology, 34, 127–137.
42.
Ronis, D. L., Yates, J. F., & Kirscht, J. P. (1989). Attitudes, decisions, and habits as determinants of repeated behaviour. In S. J. Pratkanis, S. J. Breckler, & A. J. Greenwald (Eds.), Attitude structure and function. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum.
43.
Sallis, J. F., Haskell, W. L., Fortmann, S. P., Vranizan, K., Taylor, C. B., & Solomon, D. S. (1986). Predictors of adoption and maintenance of physical activity in a community sample. Preventive Medicine, 15, 331–341.
44.
Snyder, M. (1974). Self-monitoring of expressive behaviour. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30(4), 526–537.
45.
Snyder, M., & Kendzierski, D. (1982). Choosing social situation — investigating the origins of correspondence between attitudes and behavior. Journal of Personality, 50, 280–295.
46.
Sparks, P., & Shepherd, R. (1992). Self-efficacy and the theory of planned behaviour: Assessing the role of identification with ‘green consumerism’. Social Psychology Quarterly, 55, 388–399.
47.
Terry, D. J., & O'Leary, J. E. (1995). The theory of planned behaviour: The effects of perceived behavioural control and self-efficacy. British Journal of Social Psychology, 34, 199–220.
48.
Theodorakis, Y. (1994). Planned behavior, attitude strength, role identity, and the prediction of exercise behavior. Sport Psychologist, 8, 149–165.
49.
Triandis, H. C. (1977). Interpersonal behaviour. Monterey, CA: Brooks-Cole.
50.
Triandis, H. C. (1980). Value, attitudes and interpersonal behaviour. In H. E Howe & M. M. Page (Eds.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. Beliefs, attitudes and values (Vol. 1, pp. 195–259). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
51.
Uguccioni, S. M., & Ballantyne, R. H. (1980). Comparison of attitudes and sex roles for female athletic participants and non-participants. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 11, 42–48.
52.
Van Ryn, M., Lytle, L. A., & Kirscht, J. P. (1996). A test of the theory of planned behaviour for two health related practices. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 26(10), 871–883.
53.
Wankel, L. M., Mummery, K. W., Stephens, T., & Craig, C.L. (1994). Prediction of physical activity intention from social psychological variables: Results from the Campbell's survey of well-being. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 16(1), 56–69.
54.
White, C. M., Terry, D. J., & Hogg, M. A. (1994). Safer sex behaviour: The role of attitudes, norms and control factors. Journal of Applied and Social Psychology, 24, 2164–2192.
