title: Discontinuity patterns in stages of the precaution adoption process model: meat consumption during a livestock epidemic.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, UK. f.sniehotta@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Falko F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Sniehotta
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luszczynska
authors.forename: Urte
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lippke
mesh_terms: 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