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Assessment of the theory of planned behaviour in predicting potential intention and behaviour of positive thinking among a school-based sample of Iranian adolescents: a path analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 May 2020

Leila Ghahremani ,
Mohammad Hossein Kaveh ,
Hadi Tehrani ,
Arezoo Orooji  and
Alireza Jafari Open the ORCID record for Alireza Jafari [Opens in a new window]
Leila Ghahremani
Affiliation:
Department of Health Promotion, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Kaveh
Affiliation:
Department of Health Promotion, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Hadi Tehrani
Affiliation:
Health Education & Health Promotion, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Arezoo Orooji
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Alireza Jafari*
Affiliation:
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
*
*Corresponding author: Email: Jafari.ar94@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study aimed to determine the predictive power of the theory of planned behaviour in predicting the intention and behaviour of positive thinking in school students. A cross-sectional study was performed on 367 high school male students in Iran. Data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been confirmed before. Descriptive and inferential analysis (univariate and multiple logistic regression models, Pearson correlation) was performed using SPSS software V.20. AMOS version 22 was used to perform the path analysis. According to the results, the construct of attitude was the most important construct in predicting positive thinking intention. Finally, the theory of planned behaviour constructs could predict 36% of intention variance and 20% of behaviour variance of positive thinking. Since the construct of attitude is one of the most powerful constructs in predicting student positive thinking intention in male teens, it is recommended that more attention be paid to this construct in educational programs to improve the mental health of male high school students. The results of this study can help psychologists and counsellors, families, and teachers improve students’ mental health.

Keywords

high schooladolescentpositive thinkingpath analysis
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , June 2022 , pp. 54 - 64
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Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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