Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine cognitive constructs from the theory of planned behavior (i.e., attitude, perceived behavioral control, and intention) as potential mediators of the relationship between selected social influence constructs (i.e., subjective norm, social support, and cohesion) and adherence to structured exercise classes. Sixty-two participants completed self-administered questionnaires during the fourth week (social influence constructs) and eighth week (cognitive constructs) of a 12-week exercise program. Exercise adherence was monitored during weeks 9 through 12 using perceived intensity and attendance. Pearson correlations indicated that social support correlated with perceived behavioral control, whereas cohesion correlated with attitude. Path analysis supported two distinct paths from social influence to exercise adherence: (a) social support → perceived behavioral control → intention → excersise adherence, and (b) cohesion → attitude → intention → exercise adherence. Discussion focuses on the theoretical importance of these findings, conceptual and measurement issues regarding subjective norm, and suggestions for future research.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ajzen, I. (1988).Attitudes, Personality, and Behavior, Dorsey Press, Chicago.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior.Organiz. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process. 50: 179–211.
Ajzen, I., and Driver, B. L. (1992). Application of the theory of planned behavior to leisure choice.J. Leisure Res. 24: 207–224.
Ajzen, I., and Fishbein, M. (1980).Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behavior, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Ajzen, I., and Madden, T. J. (1986). Prediction of goal-directed behavior: Attitudes, intention, and perceived behavioral control.J. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 22: 453–474.
Bandura, A. (1986).Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory, Prentice-Hall, Englewood, NJ.
Borg, G. (1985).An Introduction to Borg's RPE-Scale, Mouvement, Ithaca, NY.
Bouchard, C., Shephard, R. J., and Stephens, T. (1993).Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health: Consensus Statement, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.
Carron, A. V. (1982). Cohesiveness in sport groups: Interpretations and considerations.J. Sport Psychol. 4: 123–138.
Carron, A. V. (1988).Group Dynamics in Sport: Theoretical and Practical Issues, Spodym, London, Ontario.
Carron, A. V., and Spink, K. S. (1992). Internal consistency for the group environment questionnaire modified for an exercise setting.Percept. Motor Skills 74: 1075–1078.
Carron, A. V., and Spink, K. S. (1993). Team building in an exercise setting.Sport Psychol. 7: 8–18.
Carron, A. V., Widmeyer, W. N., and Brawley, L. R. (1988). Group cohesion and individual adherence to physical activity.J. Sport Exer. Psychol. 10: 127–138.
Courneya, K. S. (1994). Predicting repeated behavior from intention: The issue of scale correspondence.J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 24: 580–594.
Courneya, K. S., and McAuley, E. (1993). Predicting physical activity from intention: Conceptual and methodological issues.J. Sport Exer. Psychol. 15: 50–62.
Courneya, K. S., and McAuley, E. (1994). Are there different determinants of the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity?Behav. Med. 20: 84–90.
Courneya, K. S., and McAuley, E. (1995). Reliability and discriminant validity of subjective norm, social support, and cohesion in an exercise setting.J. Sport Exer. Psychol. (in press).
Cutrona, C. E., and Russell, D. (1987). The provisions of social relationships and adaptation to stress. In Jones, W. H., and Perlman, D. (eds.),Advances in Personal Relationships, Vol. 1, JAI Press, Greenwich, CT.
Dishman, R. K. (1988). Prescription for exercise adherence. In Hall, L. K., and Meyer, G. C. (eds.),Epidemiology, Behavior Change, and Intervention in Chronic Disease, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.
Dishman, R. K. (1993). Introduction: Consensus, problems, and prospects. In Dishman, R. K. (ed.),Exercise Adherence, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, pp. 1–27.
Dishman, R. K., and Sallis, J. F. (1993). Determinants and interventions for physical activity and exercise. In Bouchard, C., Shephard, R. J., and Stephens, T. (eds.),Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health: Consensus Statement, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, pp. 214–238.
Duncan, T. E., and McAuley, E. (1993). Social support and efficacy cognitions in exercise adherence: A latent growth curve analysis.J. Behav. Med. 16: 199–218.
Duncan, T. E., Duncan, S. C., and McAuley, E. (1993). The role of domain and gender-specific provisions of social relations in adherence to a prescribed exercise regimen.J. Sport Exer. Psychol. 15: 220–231.
Fishbein, M., and Ajzen, I. (1975).Belief, Attitude, Intention, and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.
Gatch, C. L., and Kendzierski, D. (1990). Predicting exercise intentions: The theory of planned behavior.Res. Q. Exer. Sport 61: 100–102.
Godin, G. (1993). The theories of reasoned action and planned behavior: Overview of findings, emerging research problems and usefulness for exercise promotion.J. Appl. Sport Psychol. 5: 141–157.
Godin, G., and Gionet, N. J. (1991). Determinants of an intention to exercise of an electric power commission's employees.Ergonomics 34: 1221–1230.
McAuley, E., and Courneya, K. S. (1993). Adherence to exercise and physical activity as health-promoting behaviors: Attitudinal and self-efficacy influences.Appl. Prev. Psychol. 2: 65–77.
McAuley, E., Courneya, K. S., Rudolph, D., and Lox, C. (1994). Enhancing exercise adherence in middle-aged males and females.Prev. Med. 23: 498–506.
Pedhauzer, E. J. (1982).Multiple Regression in Behavioral Research, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, New York.
Pender, N. J., and Pender, A. R. (1986). Attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions to engage in health behaviors.Nursing Research 35: 15–18.
Riddle, P. K. (1980). Attitudes, beliefs, behavioral intentions, and behaviors of women and men toward regular jogging.Res. Q. Exer. Sport 51: 663–674.
Robison, J. I., and Rogers, M. A. (1994). Adherence to exercise programmes: Recommendations.Sports Med. 17: 39–52.
Spink, K. S., and Carron, A. V. (1992). Group cohesion and adherence in exercise classes.J. Sport Exer. Psychol. 14: 78–86.
Spink, K. S., and Carron, A. V. (1993). The effects of team building on the adherence patterns of female exercise participants.J. Sport and Exercise Psychol. 15: 39–49.
Spink, K. S., and Carron, A. V. (1994). Group cohesion effects in exercise classes.Small Group Res. 25: 26–42.
Stephens, T., and Casperson, C. J. (1993). The demography of physical activity. In bouchard, C., Shephard, R. J., and Stephens, T. (eds.),Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health: Consensus Statement, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, pp. 204–213.
Stephens, T., and Craig, C. (1990).The Well-Being of Canadians: Highlights of the 1988 Campbell's Survey, Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario.
Theodorakis, Y. (1992). Prediction of athletic participation: A test of planned behavior theory.Percept. Motor Skills 74:371–379.
Wallston, B., Alagna, S., DeVellis, B., and DeVellis, R. F. (1983). Social support and physical health.Health Psychol. 2(4): 367–391.
Wankel, L. M., Mummery, W. K., Stephens, T., and Craig, C. L. (1994). Prediction of physical activity intention from social psychological variables: Results from the Campbell's survey of well-being.J. Sport Exer. Psychol. 16: 56–69.
Widmeyer, W. N., Brawley, L. R., and Carron, A. V. (1985).The Measurement of Cohesion in Sport Teams: The Group Environment Questionnaire, Sports Dynamics, London, Ontario.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Courneya, K.S., McAuley, E. Cognitive mediators of the social influence-exercise adherence relationship: A test of the theory of planned behavior. J Behav Med 18, 499–515 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01904776
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01904776