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Understanding Walking Behavior among University Students Using Theory of Planned Behavior

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  • Guibo Sun

    (Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, FYT Bldg., CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China)

  • Ransford A. Acheampong

    (Lab of Interdisciplinary Spatial Analysis, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, 19 Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EP, UK)

  • Hui Lin

    (Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, FYT Bldg., CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
    Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, WFY Bldg., CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
    Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2nd Yuexing Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, China)

  • Vivian C. Pun

    (Department of Health Sciences, Northeast University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

Abstract

Walking has been shown to improve physical and mental well-being, yet insufficient walking among university students has been increasingly reported. This study aimed to understand walking behavior of university students using theory of planned behavior (TPB). We recruited 169 undergraduate students by university mass email of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and first administered a salient belief elicitation survey, which was used to design the TPB questionnaire, to a subset of the study sample. Secondly, all participants completed the TPB questionnaire and walking-oriented diary in a two-day period in December 2012. We mapped the walking behavior data obtained from the diary using geographic information system, and examined the extent to which TPB constructs explained walking intentions and walking behavior using Structural equation model (SEM). We found perceived behavioral control to be the key determinant of walking intention. Shaped by participants’ perceived behavioral control, attitude toward walking and subjective norms, and behavioral intention, in turn had a moderate explanatory effect on their walking behavior. In summary, our findings suggest that walking behavior among university students can be understood within the TPB framework, and could inform walking promotion interventions on the university campuses.

Suggested Citation

  • Guibo Sun & Ransford A. Acheampong & Hui Lin & Vivian C. Pun, 2015. "Understanding Walking Behavior among University Students Using Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:11:p:13794-13806:d:57926
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Darker, Catherine D. & Larkin, Michael & French, David P., 2007. "An exploration of walking behaviour--An interpretative phenomenological approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(10), pages 2172-2183, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongyun Si & Jian-gang Shi & Daizhong Tang & Shiping Wen & Wei Miao & Kaifeng Duan, 2019. "Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior in Environmental Science: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Song-Lin Wong & Cheng-Chin Hsu & Han-Shen Chen, 2018. "To Buy or Not to Buy? Consumer Attitudes and Purchase Intentions for Suboptimal Food," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Leiming Li & Yu Zhang, 2023. "An extended theory of planned behavior to explain the intention to use carsharing: a multi-group analysis of different sociodemographic characteristics," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 143-181, February.
    4. Hossain Mohiuddin & Md Musfiqur Rahman Bhuiya & Shaila Jamal & Zhi Chen, 2022. "Exploring the Choice of Bicycling and Walking in Rajshahi, Bangladesh: An Application of Integrated Choice and Latent Variable (ICLV) Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Chung Gun Lee & Susan E. Middlestadt & Seiyeong Park & Junhye Kwon & Kyoungmin Noh & Dong-il Seo & Wook Song & Jung-jun Park & Han-joon Lee & Hyun Joo Kang & Yeon Soon Ahn, 2020. "Predicting Voluntary Exercise Training among Korean Firefighters: Using Elicitation Study and the Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-10, January.

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