Closing the knowledge-behavior gap in health promotion: the mediating role of self-efficacy.
Three cross-sectional data waves spanning 10 years (N = 2,055; 2,026; and 2,068) and 2 longitudinal data waves spanning 4 years (N = 1,384 and 1,151) from the Stanford Five-City Project (see Farquhar, Fortmann, Maccoby, & Haskell, 1985, for a full description of the project) were analyzed to determine whether diet self-efficacy mediated the relation between diet knowledge and behavior. In the cross-sectional data waves, knowledge-behavior correlations were greater among those with high (compared to low) self-efficacy. In the longitudinal data waves, knowledge-behavior correlations increased among those who increased their self-efficacy and decreased among those who decreased their self-efficacy. Recommendations are made for public health campaigns designed to improve individuals' health behaviors.
Department of Speech Communication, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4234, USA. rimal@tamu.edu
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002140:California; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy