Abstract
We examined the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting intentions to participate in group parenting education. One hundred and seventy-six parents (138 mothers and 38 fathers) with a child under 12 years completed TPB items assessing attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and two additional social influence variables (self-identity and group norm). Regression analyses supported the TPB predictors of participation intentions with self-identity and group norm also significantly predicting intentions. Editors’ Strategic Implications: These findings provide preliminary support for the TPB, in conjunction with additional sources of social influence, as a predictive model for participation in parent education and other prevention programs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.
Ajzen, I. (2005). Attitudes, personality and behavior. Milton Keynes, England: Open University Press/McGraw-Hill.
Armitage, C., & Conner, M. (2001a). Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analytic review. The British Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 471–499.
Armitage, C., & Conner, M. (2001b). Social cognitive determinants of blood donation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31, 1431–1457.
Barlow, J., Parsons, J., & Stewart-Brown, S. (2005). Preventing emotional and behavioural problems: The effectiveness of parenting programmes with children less than 3 years of age. Child: Care, Health and Development, 31(1), 33–42.
Barlow, J., & Stewart-Brown, S. (2000). Review article: Behavior problems and parent- training programs. Journal of Development and Behavioral Pediatrics, 21, 356–370.
Becker, M. H. (1974). The health belief model and personal health behavior. Health Education Monographs, 2, 328–508.
Conner, M., & McMillan, B. (1999). Interaction effects in the theory of planned behaviour: Studying cannabis use. British Journal of Social Psychology, 38, 195–222.
Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16, 297–334.
Dinkmeyer, D., & McKay, G. (1976). Systematic training for effective parenting. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Services.
Dumas, J. E., Nissley-Tsiopinis, J., & Moreland, A. D. (2007). From intent to enrollment, attendance, and participation in preventive parenting groups. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16, 1–26.
Einzig, H. (1999). Review of the field: Current trends, concepts and issues. In H. Einzig & S. Wolfendale (Eds.), Parenting education and support: A brief overview (pp. 8–25). London: David Fulton.
Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Frankel, F., & Simmons, J. Q. (1992). Parent behavioral training: Why and when do some parents drop out? Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21, 322–330.
Goddard, H. W., Myer-Walls, J. A., & Lee, T. R. (2004). Parenting: Have we arrived? Or do we continue the journey? Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 33, 457–474.
Gordon, T. (1975). P.E.T. Parent effectiveness training: The tested new way to raise responsible children. New York: New American Library.
Haggerty, K. P., Fleming, C. B., Lonczak, H. S., Oxford, M. L., Harachi, T. W., & Catalano, R. F. (2002). Predictors of participation in parenting workshops. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 22, 375–387.
Johnson, D., Harrison, B., Burnett, M., & Emerson, P. (2003). Deterrents to participation in parenting education. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 31, 403–424.
Johnston, K. L., & White, K. M. (2003). Binge drinking: A test of the role of group norms in the theory of planned behavior. Psychology and Health, 18(3), 63–77.
Kaiser, A. P., & Hancock, T. B. (2003). Teaching parents new skills to support their young children’s development. Infants and Young Children, 16, 9–21.
McCurdy, K., & Daro, D. (2001). Parent involvement in family support programs: An integrated theory. Family Relations, 50, 113–121.
McCurdy, K., Daro, D., Anisfield, E., Katzev, A., Keim, A., LeCroy, C., et al. (2006). Understanding maternal intentions to engage in home visiting programs. Children & Youth Services Review, 28, 1195–1212.
Perrino, T., Coatsworth, J., Briones, E., Pantin, H., & Szapocznik, S. (2001). Initial engagement in parent-centered preventive interventions: A family systems approach. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 22, 21–44.
Sanders, M. R., & Markie-Dadds, C. (1996). Triple P: A multilevel family intervention program for children with disruptive behaviour disorders. In P. Cotton & H. Jackson (Eds.), Early intervention and preventative mental health applications of clinical psychology (pp. 59–87). Melbourne: Australian Psychology Society.
Sanders, M. R., & Ralph, A. (2004). Towards a multi-level model of parenting intervention. In M. Hoghughi & N. Long (Eds.), Handbook of parenting: Theory, research and practice (pp. 352–368). London: Sage.
Sanders, M. R., Tully, L. A., Baade, P. D., Lynch, M. E., Heywood, A. H., Pollard, G. E., et al. (1999). A survey of parenting practices in Queensland: Implications for mental health promotion. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 9(2), 105–114.
Smith, C., & Pugh, G. (1996). Learning to be a parent: A survey of group-based parenting programmes. London: Family Policy Studies Centre.
Sparks, P., & Guthrie, C. A. (1998). Self-identity and the theory of planned behavior: A useful addition or an unhelpful artifice? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28, 1393–1410.
Sparks, P., & Shepherd, R. (1992). Self-identity and the theory of planned behavior: Assessing the role of identification with “green consumerism”. Social Psychology Quarterly, 55, 388–399.
Spoth, R., & Redmond, C. (1995). Parent motivation to enroll in parenting skills programs: A model of family context and health belief predictors. Journal of Family Psychology, 9, 294–310.
Spoth, R., & Redmond, C. (2000). Research on family engagement in preventive interventions: Toward improved use of scientific findings in primary prevention practice. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 21, 267–284.
Spoth, R., Redmond, C., Kahn, J., & Shin, C. (1997). A prospective validation study in inclination, belief, and context predictors of family-focused prevention involvement. Family Process, 36, 403–429.
Spoth, R., Redmond, C., & Shin, C. (2000). Modeling factors influencing enrolment in family-focused preventive intervention research. Prevention Science, 1, 213–225.
Stryker, S. (1968). Identity salience and role performance: The importance of symbolic interaction theory for family research. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 30, 558–564.
Stryker, S. (1980). Symbolic interactionism: A social structural version. Palo Alto, CA: Benjamin/Cummings.
Stryker, S. (1987). Identity theory: Developments and extensions. In K. Yardley & T. Honess (Eds.), Self and identity: Psychosocial perspectives (pp. 89–103). New York: Wiley.
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33–147). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Terry, D. J., & Hogg, M. A. (1996). Group norms and the attitude-behavior relationship: A role for group identification. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 776–793.
Terry, D. J., Hogg, M. A., & White, K. M. (1999). The theory of planned behaviour: Self-identity, social identity and group norms. British Journal of Social Psychology, 38, 225–244.
Turner, J. C. (1999). Some current issues in research on social identity and self-categorization theories. In N. Ellemers, R. Spears, & B. Doosje (Eds.), Social identity (pp. 6–34). Oxford: Blackwell.
White, K. M., Hogg, M. A., & Terry, D. J. (2002). Improving attitude-behavior correspondence through exposure to normative support from a salient ingroup. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 24, 91–103.
White, K. M., Terry, D. J., & Hogg, M. A. (1994). Safer sex behavior: The role of attitudes, norms, and control factors. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24, 2164–2192.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
White, K.M., Wellington, L. Predicting Participation in Group Parenting Education in an Australian Sample: The Role of Attitudes, Norms, and Control Factors. J Primary Prevent 30, 173–189 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-009-0167-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-009-0167-y