The DOI matches its Crossref record; 152 of the 152 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 47 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.
The Intention–Behavior Gap
Open accessAbstract
Bitter personal experience and meta‐analysis converge on the conclusion that people do not always do the things that they intend to do. This paper synthesizes research on intention–behavior relations to address questions such as: How big is the intention–behavior gap? When are intentions more or less likely to get translated into action? What kinds of problems prevent people from realizing their intentions? And what strategies show promise in closing the intention–behavior gap and helping people do the things that they intend to do?
Overview
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This review synthesizes evidence on the intention–behavior gap, concluding that intentions are translated into action approximately one-half of the time and that “inclined abstainers” mainly drive the gap. It identifies intention qualities, self-regulatory problems across goal pursuit, and tools such as if-then plans and progress monitoring that can help close the gap.
Key findings
- Meta-analytic evidence shows intentions predict behavior with a large sample-weighted average correlation (*r*+ = 0.53; Sheeran, 2002, 422 studies), but experimentally changing intentions produces only a small-to-medium change in behavior (*d*+ = .36; Webb & Sheeran, 2006); the gap is mainly due to people who intend to act but do not (“inclined abstainers”).
- Intention realization depends on goal dimensions, the basis of intention, and intention properties; intention stability is described as the best indicator of whether an intention will be realized, and stable intentions moderated intention–behavior consistency even across measures taken 6 years apart (Conner, Norman, & Bell, 2002).
- Self-regulatory problems occur in initiating, maintaining, and closing goal pursuit; for example, after a delay of just 5 seconds, 8% of young, healthy participants forgot to enact an intended behavior, rising to 24% when attention was divided (Einstein et al., 2003).
- If-then plans improved goal attainment and behavioral performance compared with merely forming intentions (*d*+ = 0.65; 94 studies; Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006), and progress-monitoring interventions produced a large increase in monitoring frequency (*d*+ = 1.98) that led to a small-to-medium behavior change (*d*+ = .40; 138 interventions; Harkin et al., 2016).
Methods
- Design: narrative review/synthesis of research on intention–behavior relations, not a primary empirical study.
- Data or sample: synthesizes prior correlational studies, experiments, meta-analyses, and statistical simulations; no original sample or dataset is reported.
- Main analysis: organizes evidence around (a) qualities of intention, (b) self-regulatory problems and tasks in realizing intentions across initiation, maintenance, and closure, and (c) tools for intention realization.
Limitations
- The paper states that research on goal dimensions has not yet been integrated with research on the basis of intention or studies of intention properties, and that formal tests of moderation of the intention–behavior relation remain to be undertaken for many interventions.
- The paper notes debate about the magnitude and interpretation of the ego-depletion effect and more cautious assessments of some self-control, glucose, and training approaches.
- Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it does not report systematic search or selection criteria or a formal meta-analysis, so its conclusions rest on the cited literature.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
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Claims the paper makes
0 of 47 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“not always do the things that they intend to do”
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIn the paper
“Numerous correlational studies indicate that intentions predict behavior.”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Sheeran (2002)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIn the paper
“found a 'large' sample-weighted average correlation between intentions measured at one time-point and measures of behavior taken at a subsequent time-point ( r+ = 0.53)”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Sheeran (2002)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIn the paper
“keeping track of progress (e.g., using a diary) increases the likelihood that intentions are achieved”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Harkin et al., 2016
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesNone of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“do not consistently moderate the intention-behavior relationship”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Armitage & Conner, 2001
- Not checked yetcites Sheeran, 2002
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesThe paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Experience with a behavior, or how often a person has performed the relevant behavior in the past, appears to have paradoxical effects on intention-behavior relations.”
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIn the paper
“changing intentions does not guarantee behavior change”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Fife-Schaw, Sheeran, & Norman, 2007
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesThe paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Even if people do remember their intention, good opportunities to act may be missed.”
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesNone of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Intentions based more on feelings about performing the behavior (affective attitudes) than on thoughts about the likely consequences of acting (cognitive attitudes) are also associated with improved prediction of behavior”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Conner et al., 2016
- Not checked yetcites Keer et al., Conner, Putte, & Neijens, 2014
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIn the paper
“optimistic goal setting can constitute a self-control strategy that helps people to deal with obstacles during goal pursuit”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Zhang and Fishbach (2010)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes
- It may state two separate claims as one. 13
- Probably not a substantial claim. 3
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Goal pursuit can also be derailed by competing goals, bad habits, and disruptive thoughts and feelings.”
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Forgetting to act is commonplace and has been implicated in failures to take medication as planned”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites O'Carroll et al., 2014
- Not checked yetcites Zogg et al., 2012
- Not checked yetcites Corradi et al., 2013
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“greater feelings of moral obligation and anticipated regret about failing to act increase the likelihood that intentions are enacted”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Abraham & Sheeran, 2004
- Not checked yetcites Conner et al., 2006
- Not checked yetcites Godin, Conner, & Sheeran, 2005
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The nature of the focal goal, the basis of intention, and properties of intention each influence the quality of the respective intention and its likelihood of enactment.”
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“these processes alone do not guarantee intention realization”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006, 2009
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Set goals often are over-optimistic which can reduce the likelihood that they are achieved.”
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Self-regulatory problems may be encountered during different phases of goal pursuit, and include problems (a) getting started, (b) keeping ongoing goal pursuit on track, and (c) bringing goal pursuit to a successful close”
Load-bearingStrength:hedged· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The third key problem that people may encounter when striving to achieve their intentions is failing to bring goal pursuit to a successful close.”
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“If-then plans, interventions that prompt progress monitoring, and more recent training approaches should each prove helpful in accomplishing these tasks.”
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The various problems that create a gap between intentions and behavior are neither inevitable nor irresolvable, however.”
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The intention-behavior gap is large -current evidence suggests that intentions get translated into action approximately one-half of the time.”
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes? Based: unclearIt may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Forming implementation intentions has also been shown to help to overcome a variety of unwanted influences including distractions”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Wieber et al., 2015
- Not checked yetcites Armitage & Arden, 2012
- Not checked yetcites Adriaanse et al., 2011
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Forming if-then plans is a highly effective means of accomplishing self-regulatory tasks and reducing the intention-behavior gap.”
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“three tasks must be accomplished to secure intention realization -people need to initiate, maintain, and close goal pursuit”
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“First, the intention to use a treatment target or delivery mode does not fully translate to actual utilization behavior, i.e., the intention-behavior gap (60).”
From Mental health services for German university students: acceptance of intervention targets and preference for delivery modes (2024) · cites this paper as [60]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe check wasn’t confident either way, so it gives no verdict — never disputed.
In the citing paper
“first, Canadian students with high self-reported symptoms use more health care services (60).”
From Mental health services for German university students: acceptance of intervention targets and preference for delivery modes (2024) · cites this paper as [60]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“Additionally, there is a widely recognized intention–behavior gap, where positive intentions are not always antecedent for actual behavior [91].”
From Explaining adults’ mental health help-seeking through the lens of the theory of planned behavior: A scoping review (2022) · cites this paper as [91]
Citations
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Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 8
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- Grant H., 2009, The Psychology of Goals, 77
- 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1993.tb00997.xfa · DOI
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Factors associated with vaccination intention and uptake over time in a sample of older Australians
Christou-Ergos, M., Bleicher, K., & Leask, J. (2024) · Vaccine · doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.069 · Cited by 6
Powell, L., Ackerman, R., Reinhard, C. L., Serpell, J. A., & Watson, B. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0301661 · Cited by 6
Büssing, A., Poier, D., Lauche, R., Dobos, G. J., & Cramer, H. (2017) · Complementary Medicine Research · doi:10.1159/000477720 · Cited by 6
Factors associated with intentions for breast cancer risk management: Does risk group matter?
Conley, C. C., Agnese, D. M., Vadaparampil, S. T., & Andersen, B. L. (2019) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.5066 · Cited by 6
Hunkin, H., Turnbull, D. A., & Zajac, I. T. (2019) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2019.1649407 · Cited by 6
“While resulting screening behaviours were not measured in the present study, research suggests that intentions based on affective attitudes, and specifically on anticipated regret, are more likely to influence behaviours than cognitive attitudes (Sheeran & Webb, 2016).”
Validation of the German-language version of the Volition in Exercise Questionnaire (VEQ-D)
Pfeffer, I., Elsborg, P., & Elbe, A. (2019) · German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research · doi:10.1007/s12662-019-00632-y · Cited by 6
Changing Behavior Using Integrative Self-Control Theory
Hofmann, W., Dohle, S., & Diel, K. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.011 · Cited by 7
Netshirando, V., Munyoka, W., & Kadyamatimba, A. (2020) · African Journal of Science Technology Innovation and Development · doi:10.1080/20421338.2020.1797268 · Cited by 12
“Prior studies on d-commerce that used the UTAUT2 model as a theoretical lens found that intentions do not always lead to actual behaviour (Akhlaq and Ahmed 2015; Sheeran and Webb 2016; van Bavel et al. 2019).”
BackgroundA reasoned action approach to gambling behavior
Quinton, T. S. (2020) · Cogent Psychology · doi:10.1080/23311908.2020.1857104 · Cited by 6
“There are additional ways to ensure intention translation and readers are directed to Sheeran and Webb (2016) for an overview.”
BackgroundWallis, A., Fischer, R. D., & Abrahamse, W. (2021) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101556 · Cited by 7
Behavioral insights for containing the COVID-19 pandemic: Some practices in China
Zhang, N. (2020) · Behavioral Science & Policy · doi:10.1177/237946152000600219 · Cited by 6
O’Donnell, N. H., Karabas, I., & Hill, A. (2022) · Frontiers in Communication · doi:10.3389/fcomm.2022.774009 · Cited by 7
Conner, M. T., Williams, D. M., & Rhodes, R. E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.034 · Cited by 6
van der Linden, S. (2019) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.01.005 · Cited by 12
Barriers to Climate Activism: The Vital Role of Social IdentificationPreprint
Thomas‐Walters, L., Scheuch, E. G., Parkes, I., Sabherwal, A. C., O’Dell, D., & Shreedhar, G. (2023) · doi:10.31235/osf.io/4ksgw · Cited by 6
Eri, A. O. K. I., Shirai, N., Baba, K., Masuhara, N., & Taniguchi, M. (2024) · Frontiers in Climate · doi:10.3389/fclim.2024.1283946 · Cited by 5
Insights on purchase intention of mutton shashlik - A survey of Chinese consumers based on fsQCA
Cai, G., Shen, C., Wu, X., Ding, M., Zhao, T., Li, Y., Wang, B., & Liu, D. (2024) · Future Foods · doi:10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100446 · Cited by 8
Motives and Risks of Self-Disclosure to Robots versus Humans
Augustine, A. A., & Eyssel, F. (2024) · ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction · doi:10.1145/3700887 · Cited by 6
“Assessing actual behaviour in future research is important, as intention only partly predicts behaviour [59, 60].”
Petersen, J. M., Pill, S., Ridley, K., Agnew, D., & Prichard, I. J. (2024) · Journal of Sports Sciences · doi:10.1080/02640414.2024.2425906 · Cited by 10
“Finally, the assessment of coaches intentions to exit the profession may not translate into engagement in such turnover (Sheeran & Webb, 2016).”
Utami, E. M., Gusni, G., Yuliani, R., & Pesakovic, G. (2025) · Media Ekonomi dan Manajemen · doi:10.56444/mem.v40i1.5378 · Cited by 5
“Factors such as unforeseen circumstances or resource constraints can hinder the actual performance of the intended behavior, even when the intention is strong (Sheeran & Webb, 2016).”
Diel, K., Boecker, L., Lange, J., Hofmann, W., & Crusius, J. (2025) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/01461672251333249 · Cited by 7
“Third, while we assessed participants' effort intentions, intentions do not always lead to action (Sheeran & Webb, 2016).”
Lights out alert: Evidence-based communication strategies to prepare for energy shortages
Curotto, N., Moreira, M., Moreno, R., & Schwartz, D. (2025) · Energy Research & Social Science · doi:10.1016/j.erss.2025.104159 · Cited by 4
Pu, B., & Huang, K. (2025) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1697273 · Cited by 8
“This dual-driver view aligns with evidence that increasing risk appraisals and control beliefs can shift intentions and downstream actions, yet those intentions translate imperfectly into behavior without sufficient control and action support (34, 35).”
Conti, S., Wang, Y., & Ravazzani, S. (2025) · International Journal of Business Communication · doi:10.1177/23294884251384721 · Cited by 5
Mind the Gap—An Empirical Analysis of the Attitude‐Behaviour Gap in Grocery Retailing
Ermecke, K., Mergner, N., Brüggemann, P., & Olbrich, R. (2025) · Journal of Consumer Behaviour · doi:10.1002/cb.70095 · Cited by 5
Targeting behavioral interventions based on past behavior: Evidence from vaccine uptake
Brody, I., Dai, H., Saccardo, S., Milkman, K. L., Duckworth, A. L., Patel, M. S., & Gromet, D. M. (2026) · Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes · doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2025.104465 · Cited by 4
Reetz, K., Liepelt‐Scarfone, I., Häger, A., Flöel, A., Schulz, J. B., the Dementia Commission of the German Society for Neurology (DGN), Arnim, C. A. F. V., Dodel, R. C., Duning, T., Kaluza, L., et al. (2026) · Neurological Research and Practice · doi:10.1186/s42466-026-00494-4 · Cited by 5
“A central challenge in prevention is the well-documented intention–behavior gap: although many individuals express a desire to adopt health - ier lifestyles, only about half of these intentions translate into sustained behavioral change [36].”
Daily Physical Activity in Older Age
Wilhelm, L. O., Pauly, T., Ashe, M. C., & Hoppmann, C. A. (2021) · GeroPsych · doi:10.1024/1662-9647/a000255 · Cited by 5
Bates, L., Damare, M. I., Hanson, E. D., Moore, J. B., Bae-Jump, V. L., Meyer, M. L., & Stoner, L. R. (2022) · Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine · doi:10.31083/j.rcm2307250 · Cited by 5
“[15] tivity leads to lower extremity venous blood pooling and reduced blood transit time in venous circulation, which subsequently decreases venous return inversely with stroke volume [25,34].”
BackgroundGreunen, C. V. (2022) · South African journal of information management · doi:10.4102/sajim.v24i1.1567 · Cited by 5
Haussmann, A., Ungar, N., Tsiouris, A., Schmidt, L. I., Müller, J. H., von Hardenberg, J., Wiskemann, J., Steindorf, K., & Sieverding, M. (2023) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-023-00458-y · Cited by 6
“…into actual PA. Behavior change techniques such as concrete goal setting and coping and action planning are effective to bridge the intention-behavior gap (Avishai et al., 2019; Sheeran & Webb, 2016), but there were contrary results for study populations with cancer patients (Finne et al., 2018).”
Willingness to Pay for Smart Car Security
Kwon, S., & Lee, H. (2024) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2024.3373315 · Cited by 5
“Although research suggesting that willingness does not lead to behavior may render the measurement of behavioral willingness meaningless [34], [35], understanding consumer behavioral willingness can play a key role in establishing marketing strategies because it helps identify consumer needs.”
BackgroundWhat motivates information (non-)seeking behaviors about a healthy diet?
Zhu, Y. E., Zeid, N., Leiner, D. J., & Scherr, S. (2024) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/13591053241245263 · Cited by 5
“Secondly, we did not investigate self-reported intentions related to seeking or non-seeking information, which restricts our ability to provide direct evidence of an ‘‘intention-behavior gap’’ (Faries, 2016; Sheeran and Webb, 2016).”
Jones, M. T., Kaltenegger, H. C., Cronin, R. A., & Wright, B. J. (2024) · Work & Stress · doi:10.1080/02678373.2024.2364616 · Cited by 12
“While the intention-behaviour gap (Sheeran & Webb, 2016) may restrict the interpretation of our findings as evidence of the effect of ERI predicting actual turnover, ITL is widely accepted as a strong predictor of actual turnover (Siong et al., 2006).”
Rouvere, J., Blanchard, B. E., Johnson, M., Fillipo, I. G., Mosser, B., Romanelli, M., Nguyen, T., Rushton, K., Marion, J., Althoff, T., et al. (2024) · JMIR Human Factors · doi:10.2196/57082 · Cited by 7
Ferraro, A. J., Wilkins‐Clark, R. E., Beckmeyer, J. J., Russell, L. T., Brimhall, A. S., & Markham, M. S. (2024) · Family Court Review · doi:10.1111/fcre.12807 · Cited by 5
On “intent” in research misconduct
Yeo-Teh, N. S. L., & Tang, B. L. (2024) · Accountability in Research · doi:10.1080/08989621.2024.2374577 · Cited by 6
“Another point of consideration of intent in RM is the intention-behavior gap, in that people do not always end up do things they intend to do (Sheeran and Webb 2016).”
Zhang, Q., Lin, S., & Liu, J. (2024) · Interactive Learning Environments · doi:10.1080/10494820.2024.2372642 · Cited by 5
“Sheeran and Webb (2016) argued that intentions capture not only the level of a person ’ s set goal but also their level of commitment to perform particular actions.”
Curran, M., Larade, N., Özakinci, G., Tymowski-Gionet, G., & Dombrowski, S. U. (2024) · Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1080/21642850.2024.2416505 · Cited by 5
“The particular emphasis in this study was on the subjective value individuals place on the outcomes of engagement in run streaking as a motivator for continued performance (Sheeran & Webb, 2016).”
BackgroundStofberg, N. O., Ciulli, F., Bridoux, F., & Hawlitschek, F. (2025) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.144663 · Cited by 5
Weidenbörner, V., Gleue, M., Feldhaus, C., & Werthschulte, M. (2025) · Energy Research & Social Science · doi:10.1016/j.erss.2025.103978 · Cited by 5
Boosting water conservation in shower behaviour: the impact of implementation intentions
Salmon, S. J., & Brouwer, S. (2025) · Sustainable Water Resources Management · doi:10.1007/s40899-025-01235-2 · Cited by 5
“Especially broad goal intentions such as ‘I intend to save water’, often do not lead to an actual change in behaviour (Sheeran and Webb 2016).”
Jansen, T., von den Benken, M., Lunansky, G., van Moll, E., & Lammers, M. (2025) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-025-23347-2 · Cited by 5
Rodjanatham, T., & Badir, Y. F. (2025) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100746 · Cited by 9
Forecasting the adoption of digital health technologies: The intention-expectation gap
Ruyobeza, B., Grobbelaar, S. S. S., & Botha, A. (2025) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2025.102670 · Cited by 5
Studying the Attitudes-Behavior Gap in Ethical Consumerism: A review of Research
Untarini, N. (2020) · JURNAL ADMINISTRASI BISNIS · doi:10.14710/jab.v9i2.31058 · Cited by 8
Energy (calorie) labelling for healthier selection and consumption of food or alcohol
Clarke, N., Marteau, T. M., Pilling, M. A., Roberts, N. W., Jebb, S. A., & Hollands, G. J. (2021) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd014845 · Cited by 5
“While many people want to engage in behaviours that promote good health, most find it difficult to implement and maintain them (Sheeran 2016).”
BackgroundCreating wellness apps with high patient engagement to close the intention–action gap
Boardman, S. (2021) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610220003385 · Cited by 5
“Working with a clinician can help close the intention–action gap (Sheeran and Webb, 2016).”
BackgroundSeih, Y., Tra, V. T., Lepicovsky, M., & Chang, Y. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.710185 · Cited by 7
Fostering and Measuring Civic Agency in an American Government Course
Mallinson, D. J., & Cruz, L. E. (2022) · Journal of Political Science Education · doi:10.1080/15512169.2022.2098137 · Cited by 5
“…such as increased exercise or lower energy use, and which could be extended to include positive civic actions such as voting (Abel et al. 2019; Anderson, Loewen, and McGregor 2018; Carrington, Neville, and Whitwell 2014; Faries 2016; Frederiks, Stenner, and Hobman 2015; Sheeran and Webb 2016).”
BackgroundAttwell, K., Roberts, L., & Ji, J. L. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph191610130 · Cited by 5
“It should be noted, however, that people’s self-reported intention does not always predict their future behaviour [26].”
BackgroundPsychologie und Förderung der Händehygiene-Compliance
von Lengerke, T., & Chaberny, I. F. (2022) · Krankenhaushygiene up2date · doi:10.1055/a-1194-3049 · Cited by 8
Powers, B., & Bucher, A. (2022) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/37745 · Cited by 6
“Although in one study, 65% of adults with diabetes expressed willingness to use a digital health tool to manage their diabetes even if it had a minimal effect on their outcomes [38], the intention-behavior gap is well-documented [39] and it is well-known that digital health adoption in general lags expectations.”
Structured reflection increases intentions to reduce other people’s health risks during COVID-19
Ramos, J., Grant, M. D., Dickert, S., Eom, K., Flores, A., Jiga‐Boy, G. M., Kogut, T., Mayorga, M. W., Pedersen, E. J., Pereira, B. D. C. S., et al. (2022) · PNAS Nexus · doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac218 · Cited by 5
Diminishing returns: Nudging Covid-19 prevention among Colombian young adults
Blackman, A., & Hoffmann, B. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0279179 · Cited by 6
“The implication is that the reason nudges failed to boost recent compliance does not have to do with a gap between intentions and behaviors, which is frequently blamed for the failure of nudges to have the intended impacts [60, 61].”
BackgroundZhang, C., Zhang, R., Chung, P., Duan, Y., Lau, J. T. F., Chan, D. K. C., & Hagger, M. S. (2023) · Applied Psychology Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1111/aphw.12445 · Cited by 5
Perceived economic pressure and colorectal cancer-related perceptions among U.S. males (aged 45–75)
Korous, K. M., Ogbonnaya, U. C., Vera, M. A. D., Brooks, E., Moore, J. X., & Rogers, C. R. (2023) · Cancer Causes & Control · doi:10.1007/s10552-023-01713-y · Cited by 5
Metadata
- Authors
- Sheeran, P., & Webb, T. L.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Sheeran, Paschal
- Venue
- Social and Personality Psychology Compass
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 503-518
- ISSN
- 1751-9004 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2519766541
- Semantic Scholar
- 19675f19058b8fe0f0bdc7d17037de0e5e84da42
- Cited by
- 2,185
- References
- 151
- Citations by year
- 2026: 432 · 2025: 333 · 2024: 294 · 2023: 270 · 2022: 253 · 2021: 237 · 2020: 212 · 2019: 88 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 79.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Social and Personality Psychology Compass (publishedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
- UNC Libraries
- Funders
- John Templeton Foundation (#23145)
- European Research Council (ERC‐2011‐StG‐280515)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
- Keywords
- intention-behavior gap, behavioral intention, implementation intentions, goal achievement, self-regulation
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