Using meta-analytic path analysis to test theoretical predictions in health behavior: An illustration based on meta-analyses of the theory of planned behavior

Martin S Hagger; Derwin K C Chan; Cleo Protogerou; Nikos L D Chatzisarantis

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.05.020

Using meta-analytic path analysis to test theoretical predictions in health behavior: An illustration based on meta-analyses of the theory of planned behavior

Prev Med. 2016 Aug:89:154-161. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.05.020. Epub 2016 May 27.

Authors

Martin S Hagger¹, Derwin K C Chan², Cleo Protogerou³, Nikos L D Chatzisarantis⁴

Affiliations

¹ Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Research Group, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland; School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Behavioural Bases for Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: martin.hagger@curtin.edu.au.
² Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Research Group, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
³ Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Research Group, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Research Group, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

PMID: 27238207
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.05.020

Abstract

Objective: Synthesizing research on social cognitive theories applied to health behavior is an important step in the development of an evidence base of psychological factors as targets for effective behavioral interventions. However, few meta-analyses of research on social cognitive theories in health contexts have conducted simultaneous tests of theoretically-stipulated pattern effects using path analysis. We argue that conducting path analyses of meta-analytic effects among constructs from social cognitive theories is important to test nomological validity, account for mediation effects, and evaluate unique effects of theory constructs independent of past behavior. We illustrate our points by conducting new analyses of two meta-analyses of a popular theory applied to health behaviors, the theory of planned behavior.

Method: We conducted meta-analytic path analyses of the theory in two behavioral contexts (alcohol and dietary behaviors) using data from the primary studies included in the original meta-analyses augmented to include intercorrelations among constructs and relations with past behavior missing from the original analysis.

Results: Findings supported the nomological validity of the theory and its hypotheses for both behaviors, confirmed important model processes through mediation analysis, demonstrated the attenuating effect of past behavior on theory relations, and provided estimates of the unique effects of theory constructs independent of past behavior.

Conclusions: Our analysis illustrates the importance of conducting a simultaneous test of theory-stipulated effects in meta-analyses of social cognitive theories applied to health behavior. We recommend researchers adopt this analytic procedure when synthesizing evidence across primary tests of social cognitive theories in health.

Keywords: Causal models; Indirect effects; Meta-analysis; Nomological validity; Past behavior; Path analysis; Social cognitive models; Structural equation modeling; Theory of planned behavior.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attitude*
Drinking Behavior
Feeding Behavior
Health Behavior*
Humans
Intention
Psychological Theory*