Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to Leisure Choice

TLDR

The theory of planned behavior is applied to predict leisure intentions and behavior. College students completed a questionnaire assessing attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, moods, and involvement toward five leisure activities, and a year later reported their actual engagement. Attitudes comprise affective and instrumental components, mood correlates with affective attitudes, and attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control predict intentions (R = .50–.86), while intentions and perceived control predict behavior (R = .48–.78); involvement did not improve prediction, supporting the theory’s usefulness for leisure activities.

Abstract

The theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985, 1987) is used to predict leisure intentions and behavior. College students completed a questionnaire that measured involvement, moods, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions concerning five leisure activities: spending time at the beach, jogging or running, mountain climbing, boating, and biking. One year later the participants reported how often they had performed these behaviors during the preceding year. Between- and within-subjects analyses showed that attitudes toward leisure activities consist of affective and instrumental components, and that reported mood correlates with the former but not the latter. Consistent with the theory, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted leisure intentions (R =.50 to.86), and intentions and perceived control predicted leisure behavior (R =.48 to.78). Contrary to expectations, involvement did not affect accuracy of prediction. It is concluded that the theory of planned behavior can advance our understanding of leisure activities.