Predicting behavioral intentions and physical exercise: a test of the health action process approach at the intrapersonal level.
OBJECTIVE
Theories of health behavior are usually tested on the between-person level. Associations between variables on the between- and the within-person level, however, can differ substantially. Thus, in order to better understand intrapersonal processes in the domain of health behavior, studies applying within-person analyses are needed. This study tested the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) on the within- and between-person level in the context of physical exercise.


METHODS
Participants were 265 first-year students who completed nine online questionnaires every second week. Data were analyzed by focusing on intrapersonal associations applying multilevel modeling.


METHODS
Intentions for physical exercise and self-reported physical exercise served as main outcome measures.


RESULTS
Analyses mainly confirm associations specified by the HAPA at the intrapersonal level: outcome expectancies and self-efficacy, but not risk awareness, were positively associated with intentions for physical exercise. Physical exercise in turn was positively associated with intentions, self-efficacy, action control, but not with action planning.


CONCLUSIONS
The HAPA could be confirmed on the within-person level. Future studies should focus on testing other theories of health behavior at the within-person level.
Scholz
Urte
U
Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland. urte.scholz@psychologie.uzh.ch
Keller
Roger
R
Perren
Sonja
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult