Discontinuity patterns in stages of the precaution adoption process model: meat consumption during a livestock epidemic.
OBJECTIVE
Patterns of changes in social-cognitive variables were investigated in order to test selected stages of the precaution adoption process model (PAPM). It was hypothesized that non-linear trends (discontinuity patterns) in perceived vulnerability, positive and negative outcome expectancies, procrastination, and self-efficacy might be observed across the stages.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data from 808 respondents were employed.


METHODS
Questionnaire data were collected in an on-line study on meat consumption during a livestock epidemic in Germany. Polynomial trends and analyses of variance with post-hoc-contrasts were used to examine the patterns of change.


RESULTS
Discontinuity patterns were found for perceived vulnerability, negative outcome expectancies, and procrastination. The data provided partial support for discontinuity patterns in self-efficacy. Continuity patterns were found for positive outcome expectancies.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide support for a stage model rather than a pseudo-stage model.
Sniehotta
Falko F
FF
School of Psychology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, UK. f.sniehotta@abdn.ac.uk
Luszczynska
Aleksandra
A
Scholz
Urte
U
Lippke
Sonia
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D002417:Cattle; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012718:Set, Psychology