Showing papers by "Ralf Schwarzer published in 2013"

Perceived Self-Efficacy and its Relationship to Resilience

Abstract: The construct of perceived self-efficacy is the belief that one can perform novel or difficult tasks and attain desired outcomes, as spelled out in the Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1997). This “can do”-cognition reflects a sense of control over one’s environment and an optimistic belief of being able to alter challenging environmental demands by means of one’s own behavior. Hence, it represents a self-confident view of one’s capability to deal with certain stressors in life.

Promoting exercise maintenance: how interventions with booster sessions improve long-term rehabilitation outcomes.

Abstract: Objective Follow-up intervention boosters are supposed to promote exercise maintenance beyond initial treatment. The current quasi-experimental study investigated the benefits of adding telephone-delivered intervention boosters to a self-management exercise intervention for rehabilitants. Psycho-social mechanisms by which the intervention boosters promote exercise maintenance were examined. Research design Between 2009 and 2011, individuals in cardiac and orthopedic rehabilitation (N = 1,166) were allocated to either a self-management exercise intervention or a control group (i.e., questionnaire only). In addition to standard rehabilitation, participants in the intervention group were offered a series of telephone-delivered intervention boosters after 6 weeks and again after 6 months. Self-efficacy, action planning, and satisfaction with previous exercise outcomes were reassessed 12 months after discharge. Habit strength and exercise were measured 18 months after rehabilitation. Results The intervention with boosters promoted the maintenance of planning, self-efficacy, satisfaction, exercise, and habit strength. Changes in exercise were simultaneously mediated by changes in planning, self-efficacy, and satisfaction. Changes in habit strength were sequentially mediated by planning and exercise. Conclusions Interventions with boosters that focus on action planning, self-efficacy, and satisfaction help to maintain self-directed postrehabilitation exercise. Frequent exercise performance, in turn, can strengthen exercise habits.

Positive experience, self-efficacy, and action control predict physical activity changes: a moderated mediation analysis.

Abstract: Objectives Experiencing positive consequences of one's physical activity is supposed to facilitate further activity. This motivational outcome might be generated by an increase in perceived self-efficacy. In addition to such a mediator effect, we examine whether this applies generally or only under conditions of volitional control. For this purpose, perceived action control was considered as a putative moderator. Design and Method N = 193 students participated in a study with three measurement points in time. At baseline, positive experience with previous physical activity was measured as a predictor of physical activity. Two weeks later, self-efficacy and action control variables were assessed as putative mediator and moderator, respectively. After another 2 weeks, physical activity was measured as the outcome. A moderated mediation model was specified with baseline physical activity and sex as covariates. Results Self-efficacy was found to mediate between initial positive experience and later physical activity, and this mediation was moderated by action control. Conclusions Participants’ perceptions of positive experience were associated with their subsequent self-efficacy fostering physical activity. However, persons with low levels of action control did not translate positive experience into physical activity via self-efficacy. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Numerous studies have shown that exercise-specific self-efficacy predicts subsequent physical activity. Prior positive experience with physical activity is suggested to be associated with exercise-specific self-efficacy. Furthermore, action control was found to be beneficial for the maintenance of physical activity. What does this study add? This study unveils the mechanisms between these social-cognitive determinants: our longitudinal results suggest that the mediation of positive experience and subsequent physical activity via self-efficacy is moderated by action control. Persons with low levels of action control did not translate positive experience into physical activity via self-efficacy.

Self-regulation prompts can increase fruit consumption: A one-hour randomised controlled online trial

Abstract: Objective : The purpose was to examine whether a 1-h intervention would help increase fruit consumption in motivated individuals and to study the role of self-regulatory mechanisms in the behaviour change process, with a particular focus on dietary planning and action control. Methods : A randomised controlled trial compared a 1-h online intervention with controls in 791 participants. Dependent variables were fruit intake, planning to consume and dietary action control. Results : Experimental condition by time interactions documented superior treatment effects for the self-regulation group, although all participants benefited from the study. To identify the contribution of the intervention ingredients, multiple mediation analyses were conducted that yielded mediator effects for dietary action control and planning. Conclusions : A very brief self-regulatory nutrition intervention was superior to a control condition. Dietary planning and action control seem to play a major role in the mechanisms that facili...

'I do not need a flu shot because I lead a healthy lifestyle': compensatory health beliefs make vaccination less likely.

Abstract: Compensatory health beliefs, a self-defence strategy, were examined in a theory-guided intervention promoting influenza vaccination at the workplace. In total, 851 employees were randomised to one group aimed at enhancing intention formation (standard group) or to another one assisting self-regulation (intervention group). Assessments took place after the intervention and 5 months later, investigating whether the intervention would interfere with compensatory health beliefs. The intervention generated an indirect effect via planning on vaccination. Compensatory health beliefs mediated between intention and behaviour. An interaction between intervention group and compensatory health beliefs on behaviour transpired. At low compensatory health belief levels, the intervention group resulted in more vaccinations than the standard group.

Preparing for Physical Activity: Pedometer Acquisition as a Self-regulatory Strategy

Abstract: When people intend and plan to perform higher levels of physical activity, they do not start on impulse without preparing. Thus, preparation is a behavioral construct positioned between planning and target behavior. This may be reflected by the acquisition of sports equipment as well as monitoring devices such as pedometers. The research questions are who takes such preparatory action, whether picking up a complimentary pedometer can be predicted by self-efficacy and outcome expectancies, and whether this kind of preparatory action facilitates subsequent physical activity. A longitudinal physical activity survey was conducted with 143 university students who were offered a complimentary pedometer. Collecting this free gift served as indicator of preparatory behavior. Outcome expectancies and self-efficacy beliefs were specified as predictors of this behavior. Two weeks later, physical activity differences between the groups were determined. Collecting the pedometer was associated with higher levels of physical activity at follow-up. Outcome expectancies failed to predict the pedometer collection, but self-efficacy did. An interaction between these two factors indicated that self-efficacy compensated for low outcome expectancies. Pedometer acquisition signifies a preparatory action that is facilitated by self-efficacy. Positioned between planning and target behavior, they constitute a proximal self-regulatory step towards health behavior change.

Relationship between health climate and affective commitment in the workplace

Abstract: Objective: Organizational health climate reflects the health care efforts of a company, as perceived by its employees. The climate may operate as a beneficial job resource, supporting employees’ affective commitment to the organization. This study examines the longitudinal relationship between health climate and affective commitment. Methods: A total of 851 German employees were surveyed at Time 1 (T 1) and five months later (Time 2, T 2) in 2011. Repeated measures analysis of variance and cross-lagged panel correlations were conducted to examine the longitudinal relationship between health climate and affective commitment, controlling for age and sex. Results: There were no main effects of time for health climate (F(1, 576) = 0.75, p = 0.39) or for affective commitment (F(1, 577) = 2.1, p = 0.15). Cross-lagged panel correlations indicated a predominance of health climate over affective commitment (z = 3.29; p < 0.001): the prediction of T 2 affective commitment by T 1 health climate was superior (r = 0.3...