Applying an Extended Version of the Theory of Planned Behavior to Illicit Drug Use Among Students1
Abstract
This study employed the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate the factors underlying intentions to use and use of LSD, amphetamine, cannabis, and ecstasy over 6 months in a sample of students (N= 461). The TPB provided good predictions of both intentions (mean R2= .49) and behavior (mean R2= .45). Descriptive norms explained additional variance in intentions for all the drugs, and moral norms explained additional variance in cannabis intentions. Attitude variability moderated the impact of attitudes on intentions for LSD (p < .10) and ecstasy (p < .05). Attitude moderated the impact of perceived behavioral control (PBC) on intentions for all drugs (p < .001). PBC moderated the impact of intentions on behavior for LSD (p < .05), amphetamine (p < .10), cannabis (p < .05), and ecstasy (p < .10). These interaction effects elucidate limiting conditions among the variables in the TPB.
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Research on descriptive norms has focused typically on the prediction of anti-social behaviours, with little research on the prediction of pro-social or altruistic behaviours.
“Moreover, research on descriptive norms has focused typically on the prediction of anti-social behaviours such as littering behaviour (Cialdini et al., 1990) or illicit drug use (McMillan & Conner, 2003), with little research on the prediction of pro-social or altruistic behaviours (cf. Warburton & Terry, 2000).”
From Social influence in the theory of planned behaviour: The role of descriptive, injunctive, and in-group norms (2009) · cites this paper as McMillan & Conner, 2003
Cites
The theory of planned behavior
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Efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behaviour: A meta‐analytic review
Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001) · British Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1348/014466601164939 · Cited by 9,970 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Theory of Planned Behavior: A Review of its Applications to Health-Related Behaviors
Godin, G., & Kok, G. (1996) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-11.2.87 · Cited by 3,185 · see citing works
Group norms and the attitude-behavior relationship: A role for group identification
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Descriptive norms as an additional predictor in the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analysis
Rivis, A., & Sheeran, P. (2003) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-003-1018-2 · Cited by 1,258 · see citing works
White, K. M., Smith, J. R., Terry, D. J., Greenslade, J. H., & McKimmie, B. M. (2009) · British Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1348/014466608x295207 · Cited by 527 · see citing works
Sabucedo, J.-M., Dono, M., Alzate, M., & Seoane, G. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00418 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
“A moral norm scale was elaborated based on measures that assessed the moral norm through the evaluation of participant’s perception of the rightness or wrongness of behavior (Conner et al., 2003; McMillan and Conner, 2003; Moan and Rise, 2006).”
BackgroundFife‐Schaw, C., Sheeran, P., & Norman, P. (2007) · British Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1348/014466605x85906 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
- Authors
- Mcmillan, B., & Conner, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Leeds (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Mcmillan, Brian
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-08
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1662-1683
- ISSN
- 0021-9029 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-1816
- OpenAlex
- W2025689137
- Cited by
- 162
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 4.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
- Keywords
- theory of planned behavior, illicit drug use, students, LSD, amphetamine, cannabis, ecstasy, drug use intentions, descriptive norms, moral norms, perceived behavioral control, moderating effect
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