Do different factors predict the adoption and maintenance of healthy sleep behaviors? A reasoned action approach.

Sleep deprivation is a serious public health concern in the United States that often goes unnoticed, particularly among college students and young adults. Concerted efforts are needed to help those who are not engaging in healthy sleep behaviors, while also helping those who are already maintaining healthy sleep behaviors. The purpose of the study was to evaluate theory-based determinants of intentions toward healthy sleep behaviors among students currently not sleeping 7-9 hr per night, oriented toward initiating the behavior (to start sleeping 7-9 hr per night in the next 30 days; behavioral adoption), and students currently sleeping 7-9 hr per night, oriented toward maintaining the behavior (sleeping 7-9 hr per night for the next 6 months; behavioral maintenance). The theoretical framework for this study was the reasoned action approach (RAA). A valid and reliable survey was distributed online to university students (adopters = 310, maintainers = 300). Regression analyses revealed which latent constructs predicted variance of intentions, using a three-construct and a six-construct model. For the adoption group, attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) accounted for 29.3% of the variance of intentions, and perceived norms and PBC accounted for 32.6% of the variance of intentions for the maintenance group. Furthermore, PBC, stemming from capacity (self-efficacy), was found to have the strongest influence on intentions for both groups. Results from this study support the use of the RAA as a model for designing future sleep interventions. Implications and recommendations for future research and practice are presented.

Behavior Change Techniques Used in Theory of Planned Behavior Physical Activity Interventions Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

Physical activity interventions among older adults vary widely in the techniques used to elicit behavior change. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine what behavior change techniques (BCTs) are used in interventions to increase physical activity among older adults using the theory of planned behavior and to make suggestions for BCTs that appear to be more effective. A database search identified peer-reviewed articles documenting interventions based on the theory of planned behavior. Seven articles (three randomized controlled trial, three quasi-experimental, and one n-of-1) from four countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands) were included for review. Researchers independently coded BCTs using a hierarchical taxonomy of 93 BCTs. The most frequently coded BCTs included Goal Setting (n = 5 studies), Action Planning (n = 5 studies), and Credible Source (n = 5 studies). Of the 93 BCTs in the taxonomy, only 26 were used, indicating potential opportunities to implement and evaluate less commonly used techniques in future studies.

Does level of specificity affect measures of motivation to comply? A randomized evaluation.

The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is a popular value-expectancy model in social and behavioral health. Motivation to comply, one of the theory's constructs, has not been well operationalized and measured in the past, and to date, there has been no assessment of whether level of specificity affects the measurement of the construct. The purpose of this study was to measure the motivation to comply construct across four domains (from general to TACT-behavior specific) and evaluate the potential impact the differences have when identifying determinants of generalized injunctive norms. Students (n = 234) attending a large southwestern university completed a TPB survey related to sleep and physical activity, and were randomized to one of four domains that measured motivation to comply (General domain, n = 58; Health domain, n = 60; Behavioral domain, n = 56; and TACT domain, n = 60). Across both behaviors, motivation to comply measurements did not appear to be affected by changing the level of specificity. Referents for sleep and physical activity were mostly significant, but the effects were small to medium. Future researchers should consider removing motivation to comply measures from TPB surveys to reduce respondent burden or find alternative ways of measuring the construct.

A Review of the Effectiveness of HIV Sexual Risk Prevention Interventions in Adult Prison Inmates.

This article reviews the effectiveness of HIV sexual risk prevention programs among adult prison inmates. A database search was performed to identify studies that used HIV sexual risk prevention programs with incarcerated adults. Of the 234 articles identified, 9 met the inclusion criteria. In addition, 5 articles were found containing supporting information for the 9 studies reviewed, increasing the number of articles reviewed to 14. All studies reported a significant increase in knowledge or a decrease in high-risk behaviors among the inmates at the conclusion of the interventions. Common limitations included a lack of a theoretical framework used in developing the interventions, a lack of process evaluations to measure program fidelity, and a lack of validity and reliability reporting for the study surveys. However, programs and interventions targeting HIV and sexual risk reduction appear to improve the knowledge of HIV prevention and reduce risk in the adult prison inmate population.