The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67820

Carolyn L. Blue, PhD, RN, CHES, Department of Nursing, Purdue University, Johnson Hall of Nursing, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2069, 765/494-4012, blue@nursing.purdue.edu

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. Although physical activity and eating a healthy diet have demonstrated preventing diabetes, it has been difficult for individuals to initiate and maintain these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to develop and determine content validity and reliability of behavioral, normative, and control belief scales for physical activity and healthy eating behaviors in a sample of adults at risk for type 2 diabetes. The Theory of Planned Behavior provided the framework for scale development. A purposive sample of 30 adults at high risk for diabetes was interviewed via telephone to elicit their beliefs about being physically active and eating a healthy diet. Items for the belief constructs for the two behaviors were developed from the elicited beliefs and submitted to a panel of experts to determine how well the sets of items reflected the content domain. A second random sample of adults at risk for diabetes (n = 75) completed a questionnaire with the behavioral, normative, and control belief scales and measures of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Construct validity will be established through factor analysis and correlations of the behavioral belief, normative belief, and control belief measures with attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control respectively. Internal consistency reliability will be assessed with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Measures developed in this study will be used in future research to understand the relationship between beliefs and behaviors that can reduce the risk for diabetes.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the significance of using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a conceptual framework for explaining physical activity and healthy eating behaviors in adults at risk for diabetes.
• Recognize the operational definitions for the behavioral, normative, and control belief constructs in the Theory of Planned Behavior.
• Describe the methods for scale construction for the belief measures.
• Evaluate construct validity and reliability of behavioral, normative, and control belief scales for physical activity and healthy eating behaviors in adults at risk for diabetes.

Keywords: Diabetes, Theory

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.