Norms and their relationship to behavior in worksite settings: an application of the Jackson Return Potential Model.
OBJECTIVE
To measure health norms and assess their influence on behavior among 2541 employees in 16 manufacturing worksites using an adapted Jackson's Return Potential Model (RPM).


METHODS
Worksite-level norm intensity, crystallization, and normative power were calculated for several behaviors; linear regression analyses tested whether normative power was related to each health behavior.


RESULTS
Norms about safe work practices and smoking were most intense; norms about safe work practices were most crystallized. Safe work practices and smoking held the highest normative power; healthy eating held the least normative power.


CONCLUSIONS
Comparing norm characteristics across health behaviors leads to important leverage points for intervening to influence norms and improve worker health.
Linnan
Laura
L
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. linnan@email.unc.edu
LaMontagne
Anthony D
AD
Stoddard
Anne
A
Emmons
Karen M
KM
Sorensen
Glorian
G
D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016272:Occupational Health; D017132:Workplace