College students drink at high rates. More than 80% of college students drink alcohol and about 40% engage in occasions of heavy drinking. Heavy episodic drinking among college students is associated with multiple negative consequences, such as verbal confrontations, physical fights, unprotected sex, vandalism, and driving while under the influence. Goals constitute a broad cognitive context in which behaviors occur. As an established technology for studying goal constructs, personal projects (Little, 1983; 1989; 1998) assess both long-term and short-term goals, as well perceptions about the goals assessed. Aided by the assessment of personal projects, the present study examined the ability of goal constructs to explain variability in drinking among college students within an integrated social cognitive theory model. In prospective analyses, results indicated that alcohol self-efficacy, negative outcome expectancies, and drinking self-regulation strategies were shown to be significant predictors of drinking. In addition, the goal attribute variables of Involvement and Efficacy, incongruence, and avoidance accounted for unique variance in drinking after controlling for gender, self-efficacy, outcome expectancies and drinking self-regulation. Results add to the understanding of motivational forces potentially important to drinking decisions, highlighting the contributions of goal variables. / Ph. D.

This study tested an integrated social cognitive model of physical activity intention formation, onset, and maintenance among sedentary participants (N = 465) in a church-based, social cognitive, physical activity intervention. Three separate models were tested via structural equation modeling. Each model provided a good fit to the data. The models explained 28%, 19%, and 9% of the variance in intention formation, physical activity onset, and physical activity maintenance, respectively. Consistent with hypotheses, self-efficacy mediated the effect of positive outcome expectancy on behavioral intention, adoption of behavioral strategies mediated the effect of the intervention on physical activity onset, and maintenance of self-efficacy mediated the effect of the intervention on physical activity maintenance. Contrary to hypotheses, change in self-efficacy from baseline to post-assessment and perceived satisfaction with intervention outcomes did not have effects on physical activity onset or maintenance. The findings provide preliminary evidence that physical activity intention formation, onset, and maintenance are distinct processes driven by different determinants before, during, and following a social cognitive physical activity intervention. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this project was to augment self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-regulatory skills for women with breast cancer through a quality of life intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory. Relationships between social cognitive variables, positive coping behaviors, and quality of life were explored. The intervention was conducted in collaboration with an established cancer treatment center and provided information, guided feedback, and mastery experiences in a supportive environment for breast cancer survivors. A total of 32 women were enrolled and randomized to either the 8-week intervention or standard-care. With a final n of 14, the lack of statistical power made it difficult to determine whether differences existed between the two groups. Data trends suggested that some women benefited from the program. Implications for the content and delivery of future psychosocial interventions with cancer patients were discussed. / Ph. D.

This thesis examines the state of media literacy in the middle school curriculum of Virginia's public schools. Through in-depth interviews with state certified teachers of English and Language Arts, the goal was to uncover student, teacher, resource, family, classroom, school, and other structural variables that influence media literacy among students at the middle school level, while also uncovering teachers' perception of the Standards of Learning (SOLs) and the benchmarks for media literacy that are contained within those state directives. An additional purpose of this thesis is to contribute to theory building efforts so that media literacy education is better understood in academic literature, in higher education, and in K-12 curriculum. / Master of Arts

Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is essential to the smooth functioning of organizations. A vast amount of research examining OCB has established the benefits of such behavior to businesses. In addition, individual- and organizational-level antecedents of citizenship behavior have been widely studied and well established. However, a sound assessment of OCB, which acknowledges the true social cognitive nature of the phenomenon, is yet to be developed. The purpose of this study is two-fold: First, this study seeks to develop a reliable, accurate measure of OCB. Second, this study utilizes the newly developed measure to determine how personal characteristics and situational influences interact to produce helping behavior. More specifically, this study explores how equity sensitivity, locus of control, self-esteem, and affectivity determine whether an employee engages in helping behavior. Further, the current study examines whether situation cue strength moderates the relationship between the aforementioned personality characteristics and an employee's decision to engage in helping behavior. / Master of Science

Notwithstanding progress made in description, prediction, and manipulation of self-forgiveness, the extant literature continues to be wrought with theoretical and empirical quandaries. In the current dissertation, I conceptualize self-forgiveness within the framework of Social Cognitive Theory and develop a two-factor scale to assess distinct decisional and emotional aspects of self-forgiveness among perpetrators of interpersonal transgressions. In Study One, I test the hypothesized two-factor structure in a new measure of state self-forgiveness and provide preliminary evidence supporting construct validity via associations of that measure with perceived responsibility, guilt, and shame. In Study Two, I replicate the factor structure and provide preliminary evidence of criterion-related validity by distinguishing self-forgiveness from self-punishment and self-exoneration using the two-factor structure. In Study Three, I explore profiles of association between the hypothesized decisional and emotional factors of self-forgiveness and pro-social as well as health-related correlates. In sum, findings generally supported the proposed two-factor structure of self-forgiveness, which provides a foundation for future investigations and applications of self-forgiveness.

This study examined personal, social, and demographic factors related to physical activity (PA) level and body mass index (BMI) in adolescent African American (AA) females. The participants were 211 AA females from selected parochial schools in a city in the southern U.S. Participants completed the Physical Activity Determinant Scale (PADS: Mitchell & Kontos, 2002), the Three Day Physical Activity Recall (3DPAR: Weston, Petosa & Pate, 1997), the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ: Godin & Shepard, 1985), and demographic items. Height and weight measures were taken to assess BMI. Results from logistic regression indicated that the personal factor was a significant (p<.001, ExpB=4.65) predictor of PA level, and the social factor (p<.05, ExpB=1.43), age (p<.05, ExpB=.74), and age at menarche (p<.05, ExpB=.80) were significant predictors of low BMI for age. Results from ANOVA revealed that late maturers had significantly (p<.05) lower BMI scores, but were no more physically active than early and average maturers. Findings suggest that female adolescent AAs exert more control over personal PA factors, than social PA factors, such as peer pressure and sport socialization. Additionally, BMI was not related to PA for this sample, suggesting that BMI may be influenced by other factors not investigated in the current study. Based on these findings, potential interventions should focus on aspects of the personal factor for increasing PA in adolescent AA females. Future investigations are needed to further explore the relationship between personal, social, and demographic factors, and PA and BMI for adolescent AA females.

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / Ischaemic heart disease and stroke were the leading causes of death and disability globally, accounting for a combined 15 million deaths. Disability following a stroke is complex and multidimensional. Disability and functioning post stroke can be conceptualized within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The involvement of the individual in their rehabilitation and recovery is essential. Therefore, it is a necessity for individuals, particularly in a low resource setting to engage in selfmanagement activities. Bandura’s social cognitive theory based on self-efficacy, forms the basis of self-management programmes. Self-management relates to one’s ability to manage one’s consequences post stroke, and self-efficacy has been proven to be pivotal in the management and improvement of long-term conditions. The aim of the study was to explore the self-management strategies employed by stroke survivors in the Western Cape, South Africa through an exploratory, qualitative design. Prior to the commencement of the data collection phase, ethical clearance was sought from the University of the Western Cape Research Ethics Committee. Participants were recruited from an urban and rural area in the Western Cape. An interview guide was developed based on previous literature. Interview questions were related to 1) what self-management strategies were adopted to address activity limitations and participation restrictions and 2) strategies used to address environmental challenges.

Obesity and morbid obesity affect more than 30% of Americans, which emulates the rate of smoking as the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. The prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States increased dramatically between 1980 and 2010 (16% to 36%). The integration of the social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs such as self-efficacy, self-control, environment and expectations in the study instrument allowed identifying the impact of personal, social and economic factors on Registered Dietitians (RDs) counseling behaviors with obese clients. The goal of this quantitative cross sectional study was to investigate the association between RDs counseling behaviors and weight loss of clients using SCT. The sample of 150 RDs affiliated to the American Dietetic Association completed a survey to gather counseling behaviors with weight loss clients and SCT constructs. Data were analyzed using multiple regressions. The study showed a significant relationship between three SCT constructs such as self-efficacy in overcoming barriers, counseling environment and self-control with RDs counseling behaviors. The Spearman's rho correlations analyses between independent and dependent variables showed positive relationships between self-efficacy in overcoming barriers in counseling sessions and RDs counseling behaviors .34. The study adds to the literature on weight loss and RDs' counseling skills and creates the foundation for further research studies to reduce obesity by improving counseling skills among RDs.

Factors such as parental/caregiver influences and socioeconomic status have been shown to impact food-related attitudes and behaviors. Consequently, these attitudes and behaviors affect health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess, using the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), attitudes toward milk fat type and milk consumption among Texas WIC participants. Few studies, using this theoretical framework, have examined milk intake specifically among this population. Four hypotheses were proposed according to the theoretical model. The inclusionary criteria used for this study yielded a subset sample of 2,115; all cases included were Texas WIC participants. The results of this study show that caregivers' attitudes toward drinking and offering milk fat type are related. Caregivers' attitudes toward drinking milk fat type and the type of milk they drank were proven to be statistically significant. Similarly, caregivers' attitudes toward offering milk fat type and the milk fat type their children drank were proven to be significant. Caregivers' milk intakes were positively associated with children's milk intakes. It is evident that parental/caregiver modeling influences children's dietary habits. Parental/caregiver behaviors are important influences to consider when implementing nutrition education programs or intervention efforts, especially for participants of WIC. Improving caregivers' attitudes toward low-fat or fat-free milk intake can also contribute to healthier food-related choices.