title: Translating Dental Flossing Intentions into Behavior: a Longitudinal Investigation of the Mediating Effect of Planning and Self-Efficacy on Young Adults.
abstract: Although poor oral hygiene practices can have serious health consequences, a large number of adults brush or floss their teeth less than the recommended time or not at all. This study examined the mediating effect of two key self-regulatory processes, self-efficacy and planning, as the mechanisms that translate dental flossing intentions into behavior.
  
  
  
  Participants (N = 629) comprised young adults attending a major university in Queensland, Australia. A longitudinal design guided by sound theory was adopted to investigate the sequential mediation chain for the effect of dental flossing intentions (time 1) on behavior (time 3) via self-efficacy and planning (time 2).
  
  
  
  A latent variable structural equation model with standardized parameter estimates revealed the model was a good fit to the data. Controlling for baseline flossing, the effect of intentions on behavior was mediated via self-efficacy and planning, with 64 % of the flossing variance accounted for by this set of predictors. Controlling for age and sex did not change the results.
  
  
  
  The results extend previous research to further elucidate the mechanisms that help to translate oral hygiene intentions into behavior and make a significant contribution to the cumulative empirical evidence about self-regulatory components in health behavior change.
authors.affiliation: Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. kyra.hamilton@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kyra
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9975-685X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Mikaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonham
authors.affiliation: Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bishara
authors.affiliation: Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kroon
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D011793:Queensland; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dental flossing; Oral hygiene; Planning; Self-efficacy