In: Health psychology : the official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 29 (2010), Nr. 1. pp. 72-81. ISSN 0278-6133
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Abstract
Objective: Our research investigated the role of social norms in an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) in the explanation of prostate/colorectal cancer screening (CS) intention and the prediction of CS uptake among men. Design: A cross-sectional study (Study 1) assessed sociodemographic and TPB variables (extended by descriptive norm) in 2,426 German men (mean age 56.3 years) who differed in their past CS behavior. A subsample of Study 1 (former nonattenders and irregular attenders, n = 1,032) were followed up 12 months later (Study 2). Main Outcome Measures: The authors measured cross-sectionally the intention to undergo a CS examination within the next 12 months (Study 1), and longitudinally self-reported uptake of prostate and/or colorectal CS within the last 12 months (Study 2). Results: When sociodemographic variables were controlled, TPB variables predicted a substantial amount of CS-intention (�R2 = .49). Descriptive norm explained variance beyond the classic TPB variables and interacted significantly with subjective norm. Significant predictors of CS uptake were intention and subjective norm with the latter having a different effect in the two subgroups: a high subjective norm (assessed at T1) was associated with higher CS attendance in (former) nonattenders but lower CS attendance in irregular attenders in the following 12 months. Conclusion: Social norms play an important role in men’s CS intention and behavior. For intention formation, descriptive norm is influential in addition to subjective norm. The fact that a high subjective norm resulted in a lower likelihood of screening among irregular attenders suggests possible reactance effects.
Document type: | Article |
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Journal or Publication Title: | Health psychology : the official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association |
Volume: | 29 |
Number: | 1 |
Publisher: | American Psychological Association |
Place of Publication: | Washington, DC |
Date Deposited: | 29 Oct 2015 14:17 |
Date: | 2010 |
ISSN: | 0278-6133 |
Page Range: | pp. 72-81 |
Faculties / Institutes: | The Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies > Institute of Psychology |
DDC-classification: | 150 Psychology 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | cancer screening, men, theory of planned behavior, social norms, descriptive norm |