Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Nancy Muturi / Collegiate student-athletes have been identified as an especially at-risk subgroup for heavy alcohol use as compared to the general college student population. Despite the intense physical demands required for athletic participation, national studies have found that intercollegiate athletes consumed more alcohol, engaged in more frequent heavy episodic drinking, and experienced more negative alcohol-related consequences as compared with non-athletes. A combination of structured open-ended and closed-ended questions was used in the current study. Data was collected from student-athletes across the United States through semi-structured, individual interviews informed by the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) and its constructs (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control). Open coding was the chosen method for data analysis for the study. Codes, accompanied by descriptives, were organized into themes as they related to the research questions and the theory of planned behavior. Results show that nearly half (49%) of student-athletes report drinking five or more drinks in one-sitting, with the majority of student-athletes consuming alcohol only 1-2 times per week at parties. Student-athletes’ attitudes towards heavy drinking and alcohol outcome expectancies are apparent in two themes: sexual risk taking and athletic training justification. Many respondents expressed alcohol-drinking relationships with other student-athletes at their institution. The NCAA has recognized the importance of addressing alcohol related issues among collegiate athletes. However, the type of educational programming being assigned by the NCAA has been generally ineffective in reducing alcohol use of student-athletes. In fact, of the student-athletes surveyed in this study, the majority struggled with recalling NCAA alcohol prevention programs that they are familiar with—only 13% of student-athletes use alcohol prevention skills and tools taught by the NCAA or their athletic department to reduce alcohol consumption. Similarly, there is a belief among student-athletes that the NCAA is not doing enough to reduce alcohol use among student-athletes is exemplified by the fact that the majority (57%) gave the NCAA an F letter-grade for their current alcohol intervention and prevention strategies that are being taught to student-athletes. Although the NCAA requires student-athletes to participate in alcohol, tobacco and other drug education programming, only approximately 25% of student-athletes surveyed recalled viewing a NCAA drug and alcohol educational video or reading a brochure detailing the effect alcohol has on athletic performance at the beginning of the academic year. Furthermore, 85% of student-athletes reported that they were not informed of the counseling or alcohol treatment options that the NCAA provides.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics / Rebecca A. Gould / Congregate meal programs under Older Americans Act Title IIIC provide hot meals for individuals 65 and older in a community setting during lunch time. The program focuses on preventing the problems associated with malnutrition and social isolation. From 1980 to 2002, the number of congregate meals served decreased by 18% while home-delivered meals increased almost 290%. To further understand reasons for declining program participation factors that impact participation were examined. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used in this study to explain participation intention of community-dwelling elderly who lived in the Kansas North Central-Flint Hill region. A two-phased elicitation study including: 1) focus groups and 2) salient beliefs study was administered to uncover participation beliefs and identify and clarify salient belief items. Based on the results of an elicitation study and a literature review, a valid questionnaire was developed. Data were collected at a senior fair, senior centers, senior living facilities, senior exercise classes, and a monthly meeting of retired seniors yielding a total of 238 samples. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to summarize the respondent’s demographic characteristics. A two-step modeling approach including confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling was performed to assess measurement model fit and checked causal relationships between factors. Five advantages that respondents believe influence participation include: convenience, social interaction, low-price, nutritious and balanced meals, and less waste. Family members, friends, neighbors, cooks at the meal site, and heath professionals were important referents who affected seniors’ program participation intention. The salient facilitators of program participation were activities at senior centers, the availability of transportation, the inclusive culture of senior centers, the lack of motivation and ability to cook, and poor weather. Results show the data fits the TPB moderately well: all predictor variables (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavior control (PBC), and past behavior) had a significant positive effect on participation intention. Among the four factors, PBC had the greatest predictive power on intention. Attitude had the least impact on participation intention. Seniors provide thoughtful and insightful opinions about meal program. Results suggest program provider should focus on remove participation barriers and implement effective strategies to increase congregate meal program participation. The ultimate goal is to encourage the elderly to participate, improving their nutritional intake and thus, their quality of life.

E-Government is the use of information technology particularly web applications to deliver convenient services for citizens, business and government. Governments worldwide spend billions of their budgets in order to deliver convenient electronic services to their citizens. There are two important points; government offers online services, and citizens consume these services. In order to maximize the benefits of these projects and to avoid possible failures, the gap between these points should be addressed. Yet there are few empirical studies that have covered the relevant issues of adoption from the citizen perspective in developing countries. This research study investigates citizens’ acceptance of e-government services in the context of Saudi Arabia. It posits an integrated model of the key elements that influence citizens’ adoption of e-government. The framework includes a combination of attitudinal, social, control and trust factors as well as the influence of gender. The model is validated by surveying 533 citizens and utilising the structural equation modeling technique for data analysis. Findings show that both measurement and structural models exhibit good model fit to data. The study shows that all constructs satisfy the criteria of constructs reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. The paths estimations show that of the sixteen designed casual relationships, eleven paths relationships were found to be significant while the other five paths remained unsupported.

This quantitative study investigates on how the attitudes amongst people in Tampa are towards the use of public transportation and also analyse which factors they consider vital for its development. The data is collected with the help of an online questionnaire and later compared with the current comprehensive plan and transportation plan in Tampa, after a qualitative literature review, in order to analyse and compare if there are any differences between the respondents and the planners. In other word’s compare theory to what is happening in reality. The results show that both the planners and the respondents acknowledge the dominance and negative effects of car use and that an expansion of public transportation is necessary in order to enhance the overall quality of life but also sustainability. The biggest difference was the attitude toward and belief in Mobility Management and soft measures. As the plan documents do not put any emphasis on the importance of changing attitudes with the help of soft measures, the respondents showed that Mobility Management and services linked to it could be a vital factor to change overall attitude towards public transportation if it were implemented.

The purpose of this dissertation was to use the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict Texas pharmacists’ intention to report serious adverse drug effects (ADEs) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study explored the utility of the TPB model constructs (attitude [A], subjective norm [SN], perceived behavioral control [PBC]), as well as past reporting behavior (PRB), and perceived moral obligation (PMO) to predict pharmacists’ intention to report serious ADEs to the FDA. The study also determined if the pharmacists’ A, SN and PBC were related to practice characteristics and demographic factors. A survey was developed based on two focus group interviews, pretested and mailed to 1,500 Texas practicing pharmacists. An overall response rate of 26.4 percent was obtained (n = 377 pharmacists). Overall, pharmacists intended to report serious ADEs, had a favorable attitude towards reporting, were somewhat influenced by social norms regarding reporting and perceived themselves to have some control over reporting serious ADEs to the FDA. For direct measures, A and SN were significant predictors of intention to report serious ADEs, but PBC was not. The TPB constructs together accounted for 34.0 percent of the variance in intention to report serious ADEs to the FDA. Using indirect measures, A, SN and PBC were significant predictors of intention and together accounted for 28.8 percent of the variance in intention to report serious ADEs. PRB and PMO improved the explanatory power of the regression models (direct and indirect measures) over and above the TPB constructs. Unlike most other practice characteristics and demographic factors examined, knowledge was significantly related with the TPB constructs. In summary, A, SN, PBC (indirect measures), PRB, and PMO influence the formation of pharmacists’ intention to report serious ADEs. The TPB has utility in predicting ADE reporting behavior. Pharmacy educators should explore pharmacists’ attitudes, beliefs, and expectations of important others in designing educational programs. Strategies to help pharmacists report more serious ADEs should focus on altering their perception of social pressure towards reporting and addressing the barriers towards ADE reporting (e.g., lack of knowledge). / text

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Knowledge levels of issues related to fertility, reproduction, and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are low among the general population. There have also been increasing trends for women to delay childbearing and for many individuals to turn to various forms of ART to aid reproduction. Many commentators assume the provision of information targeting fertility related issues and ART will be influential in altering women’s intentions related to delay childbearing, but there is a lack of both empirical and theoretical evidence to support this assumption. Further, suggestions for how to provide education related to fertility and ART have not yet been examined. The present study examined the applicability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) for predicting women’s intentions to delay childbearing and whether the provision of detailed, accurate, and accessible information regarding reproduction, factors influencing fertility, and the limitations of fertility treatments would alter individual attitudes and levels of perceived control surrounding delayed childbearing. Participants received one of two informational interventions (i.e., fertility-related or alcohol-related information) then completed a questionnaire measuring the constructs of the theory of planned behavior. It was predicted that the theory of planned behavior would provide an adequate framework for examining women’s intentions to delay childbearing in that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control would all emerge as significant predictors of these intentions (hypothesis 1). It was also predicted that the provision of detailed, accurate and accessible information regarding reproduction, factors influencing fertility, and the limitations of fertility treatment would alter young women’s intentions to delay childbearing (hypothesis 2). Multiple regression analyses provided support for Hypothesis 1 and substantiated that TPB provides an adequate framework for examining women’s intentions to delay childbearing. Hypothesis 2 was partially supported such that the intervention groups significantly differed with respect to their delayed childbearing intentions. However, most of the women in this sample did not evidence intentions to delay childbearing into critical fertile periods. Future research is warranted to examine the theory of planned behavior’s ability to predict delayed childbearing over time, across cohorts, and amongst men, as well as the impact of improved reproductive technologies and media reports of fertility on intentions to delay childbearing.

Background: This study investigates whether the Theory of Planned Behaviour is a viable model to predict the intentions of care staff to support adults with a learning disability to take part in physical activity. Previous research has suggested that people with a learning disability take part in less physical activity than those without disabilities. Research also shows that people with a learning disability have additional health needs when compared to the general population. Some conditions affecting people with a learning disability may be prevented or alleviated by increased physical activity. People with learning disabilities are sometimes dependent on their care staff to support them to access activities, therefore it is important to include care staff in planning interventions. The principal hypothesis of this research was that the Theory of Planned Behaviour may be a useful model in predicting the intentions of staff to support service users to engage in physical activity. Method: Seventy-eight individuals who were keyworkers for adults with learning disabilities participated in this study. This study is based on the responses of these individuals as recorded on questionnaires at two distinct times. At time one, the respondents completed an adaptation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and two questionnaires relating to the Theory of Planned Behaviour. At time two, the respondents completed a follow-up measure of physical activity using the IPAQ-SF. The questionnaires were distributed in a pencil-and-paper format, and were available online. Data were analysed using path analysis, an extension of multiple regression. Results: A number of significant relationships between variables were demonstrated by the data. Perceived behavioural control was a significant predictor both of care staff intention and of the behaviour of the service user. Attitude was also a significant predictor of care staff intention. The data did not support that intention would mediate the relationship between attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control and behaviour. Perceived behavioural control was the most significant predictor of intention and of behaviour. Discussion: Results indicate that people with a learning disability take part in less physical activity than the recommendations for health. Perceived behavioural control was the most predictive variable in this population. The clinical and theoretical implications of this are discussed.

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the US, with an estimated incidence rate of 6.2 million new cases each year. Men have higher instances of certain HPV related outcomes (e.g., head/neck cancers) when compared to women, so male vaccination with the HPV vaccine is also paramount to preventing cancer. The present study examined the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a model for predicting HPV vaccination intentions among men. Results suggest the TPB was a well-fitting model to the data, but not all aspects of the TPB model were predictive of HPV vaccination intentions. Behavioral beliefs (e.g.., the belief that vaccination will provide a beneficial outcome) were the only significant predictor of HPV vaccination intention in the next 6 months. Perceived norms, motivations to comply with norms, attitudes towards the HPV vaccine, and self-efficacy were not significant predictors of HPV vaccination intentions.

This study investigates the consumers' intention towards Internet shopping. The Theory of Planned Behavior is used to predict behavioral intention (BI), which is a function of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC). The effects of demographic and personal variables on BI are also examined. Data analysis (n = 303) indicates that attitude, subjective norm, perceptions of behavioral controls, and previous purchases are significant predictors of behavioral intention. Product/Convenience, Customer Service (attitude factors), Purchase and Delivery, Promotional Offers, Product Attribute (factors of PBC), subjective norm, hours spent online, money spent online, and previous purchases discriminate respondents of high BI from low BI. Behavioral intention of shopping online is highest for Specialty Products followed by Personal, Information Intensive, and Household Products.