Gender-related personality traits, self-efficacy, and social support: How do they relate to women's waist circumference change?. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hankonen, Nelli; Konttinen, Hanna; Absetz, Pilvikki
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 19:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1291
• Page End: 1301
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: agency -- communion -- gender-role orientation -- health behavior change -- self-efficacy -- social support; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105313488979
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

This study investigated whether gender-role related traits agency and communion contribute to successful health behavior change, in an interplay with domain-specific psychosocial factors, namely, agency, mediated by health-related self-efficacy, and communion, moderated by social support. Data from women ( N = 282) participating in the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Agency and increase in self-efficacy both independently predicted waist circumference reduction in the 1-year follow-up. Individuals high in communion succeeded in waist reduction only if they received social support. Initial self-efficacy increase predicted 3-year waist reduction. Gender-role orientation, together with social environment, influences behavior change intervention outcomes.