Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Wang, Xiao
URN	etd-07102006-182334
Title	Guilt, Media Exposure, and Physical Activity: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Communication, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Gary Heald Committee Chair Akihito Kamata Committee Member Barry Sapolsky Committee Member Laura Arpan Committee Member Vicki Eveland Committee Member
Keywords	Persuasion Health Behavior Theory of Planned Behavior Media Exposure Guilt
Date of Defense	2006-06-15
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The theory of planned behavior (TPB) has been criticized for not incorporating emotions in its theoretical framework and for not explaining the origin of attitudes. This dissertation sought to address the sufficiency of the theory by analyzing the effects of guilt on individuals’ intentions to participate in physical activity and the effects of media exposure on their attitudes toward physical activity. This study employed a two-wave panel design and used both a convenience sample and a random sample based on the undergraduate students drawn from a university in the southeastern United States. A two-step structural equation modeling procedure was utilized to analyze the data. Two path models were proposed and compared. The initial model included the TPB variables, self-efficacy, and past behavior, and the final model included guilt variables in addition to those included in the initial model. The study confirmed that the TPB was a good theory in predicting individuals’ intentions to participate in physical activity and their physical activity behaviors, but the inclusion of guilt further augmented the sufficiency of the theory. More specifically, this study found that individuals’ anticipated guilt predicted their intentions to participate in physical activity and that past guilt was not a significant predictor of their intentions. Multiple regression analysis revealed that individuals’ attitudes toward physical activity were predicted by their exposure to health, entertainment, and fashion magazines, and were not predicted by their sports magazine reading or their exposure to slim or muscular body images in television programs. Results from the two samples revealed generally consistent patterns. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and future research directions are provided.
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