Planning Contributes to Fill the Intention-behaviour gap via Action Control

Abstract

Background: Action planning and coping planning are promising variables to bridge the intention-behaviour gap. More proximate variables to health behaviour have been studied, such as action control. The degree by which planning exerts its effect on behaviour through action control is studied. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in Costa Rica with 497 participants (mean age = 18.7 years, SD = 2.8) from humanities courses at the university. Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the model proposed. A 3 steps-mediation was specified where T1 intention and T1 action planning were expected to precede T2 coping planning, T2 action control and T2 exercise. Intention, action planning, coping planning were expected to exert their effects on exercise through action control. T1 exercise, sex and age were specified as covariates on T2 exercise. Findings: The model proposed showed a good fit to the data, which indicates that intention, action planning, coping planning have indirect effects on exercise via action control. Discussion: The effects of intentions and planning on exercise are explained via action control, which should be considered when designing interventions.