Utility of the health belief model and social influence to predict exercise behaviors among Hong Kong Chinese

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the viability of major components of the Health Belief Model (HBM), body-image related benefits, and social influence in predicting exercise behaviors. In particular, it is hypothesized that: (1) HBM variables, including perceived health benefits and barriers, are predictive of exercise behaviors, (2) the inclusion of social influence will enhance the overall predictive power of the model, and (3) body-image related benefits will emerge as a reliable predictor in exercise behaviors.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-seven Hong Kong Chinese participants completed the Becke Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity, the Health Belief Model scale, and the Reasons for Exercise Inventory.

Results: Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that perceived health benefits, body-image related benefits, and perceived barriers accounted for 20.3% of the variance in exercise behaviors, even when the effects of major demographic variables were controlled for. Social influence successfully improved the predictive ability of the model by 3.1%. Body-image related benefits, perceived barriers, and social influence, but not perceived health benefits, were reliable and unique predictors of exercise behaviors.

Discussion: These results lend support to the utility of the HBM and psychosocial variables (perceived barriers, body-image related benefits, and social influences) to understand and predict exercise behaviors among Hong Kong Chinese.