Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy

Purpose: 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 mech...

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Main Authors: Hamilton, Kyra, Bonham, M., Bishara, J., Kroon, J., Schwarzer, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer New York LLC 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53554
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author Hamilton, Kyra
Bonham, M.
Bishara, J.
Kroon, J.
Schwarzer, R.
author_facet Hamilton, Kyra
Bonham, M.
Bishara, J.
Kroon, J.
Schwarzer, R.
author_sort Hamilton, Kyra
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Purpose: 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. Method: 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). Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2016
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-535542017-10-09T05:36:04Z Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy Hamilton, Kyra Bonham, M. Bishara, J. Kroon, J. Schwarzer, R. Purpose: 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. Method: 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). Results: 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. Conclusion: 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. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53554 Springer New York LLC restricted
spellingShingle Hamilton, Kyra
Bonham, M.
Bishara, J.
Kroon, J.
Schwarzer, R.
Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy
title Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy
title_full Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy
title_fullStr Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy
title_full_unstemmed Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy
title_short Translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: A longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy
title_sort translating dental flossing intentions into behavior: a longitudinal investigation of the mediating effect of planning and self-efficacy
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53554