Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Descriptive norms as an additional predictor in the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analysis

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study used meta-analysis: (a) to quantify the relationship between descriptive norms and intentions, and (b) to determine the increment in variance attributable to descriptive norms after variables from the theory of planned behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1991) had been controlled. Literature searches revealed twenty-one hypotheses based on a total sample of N = 8097 that could be included in the review. Overall, there was a medium to strong sample-weighted average correlation between descriptive norms and intentions (r += .44). Regression analysis showed that descriptive norms increased the variance explained in intention by 5 percent after attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control had been taken into account. Moderator analyses indicated that younger samples and health risk behaviours were both associated with stronger correlations between descriptive norms and intentions. Implications of the findings for the conceptualization of social influences in the TPB are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (1999). The theory of planned behavior: Assessment of predictive validity and “perceived control.” British Journal of Social Psychology, 38, 35–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behavior: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 471–499.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Astrom, A. N., & Rise, J. (2001). Young adults' intention to eat healthy food: Extending the theory of planned behavior. Psychology and Health, 16, 223–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, C., Jonsson, I., & Conner, M. (2000). Understanding choice of milk and bread for breakfast among Swedish children aged 11-15 years: An application of the theory of planned behavior. Appetite, 34, 5–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blanton, H., Van den Eijnden, R. J. J. M., Buunk, B. P., Gibbons, F. X., Gerrard, M., & Bakker, A. (2001). Accentuate the negative: Social images in the prediction and promotion of condom use. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31, 274–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buunk, B. P., & Bakker, A. B. (1995). Extradyadic sex: The role of descriptive and injunctive norms. The Journal of Sex Research, 32, 313–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buunk, B. P., Bakker, A. B., Siero, F. W., VandenEijnden, R. J. J. M., & Yzer, M. C. (1998). Predictors of AIDS-preventive behavioral intentions among adult heterosexuals at risk for HIV-infection: Extending current models and measures. AIDS Education and Prevention, 10, 149–172.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castro, F. G., Maddahian, E., Newcomb, M. D., & Bentler, P. M. (1987). A multivariate model of the determinants of cigarette smoking among adolescents. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 28, 273–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conner, M., & Armitage, C. (1998). Extending the theory of planned behavior: A review and avenues for future research. Journal of Applied Social Psycholgy, 28, 1429–1464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conner, M., Martin, E., Silverdale, N., & Grogan, S. (1996). Dieting in adolescence: An application of the theory of planned behavior. British Journal of Health Psychology, 1, 315–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conner, M., & McMillan, B. (1999). Interaction effects in the theory of planned behavior; Studying cannabis use. British Journal of Social Psychology, 38, 195–222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, S., & Donald, I. (2001). Extending the theory of planned behavior: Roles for descriptive and moral norms. Paper presented at the British Psychological Society Centenary Conference, Glasgow, March.

  • Cottier, L. B., Compton, W. M., Ben Abdallah, A., Cunningham-Williams, R., Abram, F., Fichtenbaum, C., & Dotson, W. (1999). Peer delivered interventions reduce HIV risk behaviors among out-of-treatment drug abusers. Public Health, 113, 31–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, M., & Gerard, H. B. (1955). A study of normative and informational influences upon individual judgement. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51, 629–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eiser, J. R., & van der Pligt, J. (1984). Attitudinal and social factors in adolescent smoking: In search of peer group influence. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 14, 348–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godin, G., & Kok, G. (1996). The theory of planned behavior: A review of its applications to healthrelated behaviors. American Journal of Health Promotion, 11, 87–98.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grube, J. W., Morgan, M., & McGree, S. T. (1986). Attitudes and normative beliefs as predictors of smoking intentions and behaviors: A test of three models. British Journal of Socia l Psychology, 25, 81–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1985). Statistical methods for meta-analysis. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooker, K., & Kaus, C. R. (1994). Health-related possible selves in young and middle adulthood. Psychology and Aging, 9, 126–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, J. E., Schmidt, F. L., & Jackson, G. B. (1982). Meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D. B. (1980). Drug and drinking behavior among youth. Annual Review of Sociology, 6, 235–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marks, G., & Miller, N. (1987). Ten years of research on the false-consensus effect; An empirical and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin, 102, 72–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMillan, B., & Conner, M. (2001). Applying an extended version of the theory of planned behavior to illicit drug use among students (manuscript under review).

  • Oetting, E. R., & Beauvais, F. (1986). Peer cluster theory: Drugs and the adolescent. Journal of Counseling and Development, 65, 17–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oetting, E. R., & Beauvais, F. (1987). Common elements in youth drug abuse: Peer clusters and other psychosocial factors. Journal of Drug Issues, 2, 133–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasupathi, M. (1999). Age differences in response to conformity pressure for emotional and nonemotional material. Psychology and Aging, 14, 170–174.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Povey, R., Conner, M., Sparks, P., James, R., & Shepherd, R. (2000). The theory of planned behavior and healthy eating: Examining additive and moderating effects of social influence variables. Psychology and Health, 14, 991–1006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivis, A., & Sheeran, P. (2004). Unconscious effects of prototypes on health and social behavious: Evidence from young people's binge drinking. Manuscript under review.

  • Rivis, A., & Sheeran, P. (2003). Social influences and the theory of planned behavior: Evidence for a direct relationship between prototypes and young people's exercise behavior. Psychology and Health, 18, 567–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, R. R., (1984). Meta-analytic Procedures for Social Research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaalma, H., Kok, G., & Peters, L. (1993). Determinants of consistent condom use by adolescents: The impact of experience of sexual intercourse. Health Education Research, 8, 255–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarzer, R. (1988). Meta: Programs for Secondary Data Analysis. Berlin: Free University of Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sebald, H. (1989). Adolescents' peer orientation: Changes in the support system during the past three decades. Adolescence, 24, 937–946.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheeran, P. (in press). Intention-behavior relations: A conceptual and empirical review. In W. Stroebe and M. Hewstone (Eds.), European Review of Social Psychology. London: John Wiley & Sons.

  • Sheeran, P., & Orbell, S. (1999). Augmenting the theory of planned behavior: Roles for anticipated regret and descriptive norms. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 23, 2107–2142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheeran P., & Orbell, S. (1998). Do intentions predict condom use? Meta-analysis and examination of six moderator variables. British Journal of Social Psychology, 37, 231–250.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheeran, P., & Taylor, S. (1997). Predicting intentions to use condoms: Meta-analysis and comparison of the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 29, 1624–1675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, C. R., & Fromkin, H. L. (1980). Uniqueness: The pursuit of difference. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanton, B. F., Li, X., Black, M. M., Ricardo, I., Galbraith, J., Feigelman, S., & Kaljee, L. (1996). Longitudinal stability and predictability of sexual perceptions, intentions, and behaviors among early adolescent African-Americans. Journal of Adolescent Health, 18, 10–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suls, J., & Mullen, B. (1982). From the cradle to the grave: Comparison and self-evaluation across the life span. In J. Suls (Ed.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol. 1, pp. 97–125). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton, S. (1998). Predicting and explaining intentions and behavior: How well are we doing? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28, 1317–1338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trafimow, D. (1994). Predicting intentions to use a condom from perceptions of normative pressure and confidence in those perceptions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24, 2151–2163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trafimow, D., & Sheeran, P. (1998). Some tests of the distinction between cognitive and affective beliefs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 34, 378–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sheffield, UK

    Amanda Rivis & Paschal Sheeran

Authors
  1. Amanda Rivis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paschal Sheeran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rivis, A., Sheeran, P. Descriptive norms as an additional predictor in the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analysis. Curr Psychol 22, 218–233 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-003-1018-2

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-003-1018-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation