Integrating health consciousness, self-efficacy, and habituation into the attitude-intention-behavior relationship for physical activity in college students

This study aimed to empirically test the relationship between attitude, behavioral intention, and behavior, which has been asserted by many human behavior theories including those of reasoned action, planned behavior, interpersonal behavior, and self-regulation. In the physical activity context, the study explored (a) how two cognitive constructs - health consciousness and self-efficacy - influence the attitude-intention-behavior relationship, and (b) how the relationship differs depending on habituation to physical activity. A survey of 525 undergraduate students was conducted at a South Korean university. The results of structural equation modeling showed that the attitude-intention-behavior relationship was only significant in the non-habituation group. In the linkage, health consciousness significantly influenced attitude toward physical activity, while self-efficacy had stronger impacts on behavioral intention and behavior than on attitude. Based on the findings, some theoretical implications and practical guidelines are discussed.