Weight control specific compensatory health beliefs: Hypothetical testing and model extension

Compensatory health beliefs (CHBs) refers to the beliefs that unhealthy behavior can be compensated for by activating healthy behavior. The purposes of this study were to investigate various theoretical hypotheses in the CHB model and to present a model whose concept expands from the original CHB model. A cross-sectional survey was designed for the present study. The sample consisted of 788 undergraduate students (mean age 19 years). All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding weight control specific CHBs, self-efficacy, self-concordance, motivational conflict responses, compensatory behavior intentions, and actual behavioral control. Path modeling showed that the degree of desirability influenced resolving motivational conflict by resisting desire and adapting risk perception/outcome expectancy when implementing tempting behavior. Identified self-concordance had an influence on resolving conflict by resisting desire. Weight control self-efficacy had an influence on resolving motivational conflict by resisting desire and adapting risk perception/outcome expectancy when implementing tempting behavior. Weight control self-efficacy had an influence on identified self-concordance. Compensatory behavior self-efficacy had an influence on compensatory behavior intention. Actual behavioral control had an influence on compensatory behavior intention and compensatory behavioral self-efficacy. Further work is required to explore all of the processes of the model.