Utility of the Model of Health Promotion Behavior in explaining intentions and amount of current leisure time exercise in an employed population.

This study tests a new model of health behavior called the Model of Health Promotion Behavior. This model draws on elements and frameworks suggested by the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, the Theory of Planned Action and the Health Promotion Model. This model is intended as a general model of behavior but this first test of the model uses intentions and amount of exercise as outcome behaviors. Using a one-time cross sectional mail-out, mail-back survey design, a 15 scale, 134 item questionnaire was sent to 2,000 employees working for two blue collar and two white collar companies located in Southeastern Michigan. All the companies sponsored employee health promotion programs, and two had employee fitness centers. After two follow-up mailings and one mailing to secure answers to missing data, 982 responses were received (49.1%) resulting in 845 usable cases for the predictors of intentions analysis and 918 usable cases for the prediction of amount of exercise analysis. Self efficacy and Non-Health Benefits emerged in both data splits as the most powerful predictors of Intentions to exercise, together explaining 29% of the variance. Health Benefits, the interaction of Prior Experience with Non-Health Benefits and the interaction of Prior Experience with Clinical Definition of Health were inconsistent predictors of Intentions, but did not add to the variance explained by the model. Intentions, and the interaction of Intentions with Barriers, with Support of Friends, and with Self Efficacy were the most consistent correlates of amount of exercise, together explaining 47% of the variance. Three additional variables, Cues to Action, the interaction of Intentions with Personal Competence and with Prior Exercise History were less consistent correlates of amount of exercise, and when included, the full model explained an 49% of the variance. This new model appears to be viable in explaining intentions to exercise and amount of exercise, both in absolute terms and when compared to existing models.PhDHealth Behavior and Health EducationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/104010/1/9423279.pdfDescription of 9423279.pdf : Restricted to UM users only