The Theory of Planned Behavior, Domain Specific Self-Efficacy and Adolescent Smoking

ABSTRACT

This study applied the theory of planned behavior to adolescent smoking. The theory maintains that attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control predict intentions to smoke. These intentions predict smoking behavior, along with a direct effect of perceived behavioral control. In a sample of two hundred eighty-five 15- and 16-year-old students, the theory of planned behavior was shown to provide a comprehensive theoretical model to account for the predictors of adolescent smoking. The study farther examined the effects of self-efficacy in other domains on the predictors of smoking. Students with lower conduct/morality self-efficacy had more positive attitudes toward smoking, normative influences that approved of smoking and greater perceived behavioral control to smoke. The results are discussed in terms of potential points of intervention to discourage adolescent smoking.