title: Applicability of action planning and coping planning to dental flossing among Norwegian adults: a confirmatory factor analysis approach.
abstract: Using a prospective design and a representative sample of 25-yr-old Norwegians, this study hypothesized that action planning and coping planning will add to the prediction of flossing at 4 wk of follow-up over and above the effect of intention and previous flossing. This study tested the validity of a proposed 3-factor structure of the measurement model of intention, action planning, and coping planning and for its invariance across gender. A survey was conducted in three Norwegian counties, and 1,509 out of 8,000 randomly selected individuals completed questionnaires assessing the constructs of action planning and coping planning related to daily flossing. A random subsample of 500 participants was followed up at 4 wk with a telephone interview to assess flossing. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the proposed 3-factor model after respecification. Although the chi-square test was statistically significant [chi(2) = 58.501, degrees of freedom (d.f.) = 17), complementary fit indices were satisfactory [goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.99, root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.04]. Multigroup CFA provided evidence of complete invariance of the measurement model across gender. After controlling for previous flossing, intention (beta = 0.08) and action planning (beta = 0.11) emerged as independent predictors of subsequent flossing, accounting for 2.3% of its variance. Factorial validity of intention, action planning and coping planning, and the validity of action planning in predicting flossing prospectively, was confirmed by the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Science-Community Dentistry, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway. anne.nordrehaug@cih.uib.no
authors.forename: Anne Nordrehaug
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Astrøm
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D010934:Planning Techniques; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors