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Original Article

Beliefs Are Not Behavior

The Distinction Between Compensatory Health Beliefs and Compensatory Health Behavior

Published Online:March 02, 2017https://doi.org/10.1026/0943-8149/a000161

Abstract

Abstract. Compensatory health beliefs (CHBs), defined as belief that an unhealthy behavior can be compensated by engaging in another healthy behavior, are negatively predictive of health-behavior change intentions and behavior. However, CHBs have to be distinguished from compensatory health behavior (CBs), which is defined as compensatory behavior that an individual engages in. As it has not been investigated to date, the aim of this study was to systematically examine the distinction between CHBs and CBs in the context of alcohol consumption. The baseline sample consisted of 898 participants (mainly students, mean age = 23.57 years). For running exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on CHBs and CBs, the split-half sample method was used. Moreover, the relationships of CHBs and CBs with health-related variables were assessed by regression analyses. The cross-sectional analyses supported the distinction between CHBs and CBs. In contrast to the CHBs, CBs were positively predictive of the intention to drink less alcohol and alcohol consumption. The consideration of CBs when investigating health behavior is highly relevant.


Überzeugungen versus Verhalten. Die Unterscheidung von kompensatorischen Gesundheitsüberzeugungen und kompensatorischem Gesundheitsverhalten

Zusammenfassung. Kompensatorische Gesundheitsüberzeugungen (CHBs), definiert als Überzeugung, dass ein ungesundes Verhalten durch das Ausführen eines gesunden Verhaltens kompensiert werden kann, prädizieren Intentionen zur Gesundheitsverhaltensänderung und Gesundheitsverhalten negativ. CHBs werden von Kompensatorischem Gesundheitsverhalten (CBs) unterschieden. CBs bezeichnen das Gesundheitsverhalten, dass man ausführt, um ein ungesundes Verhalten auszugleichen. Da bisherige Forschung eine Unterscheidung zwischen CHBs und CBs nahe legt, ist das Ziel dieser Studie die erstmalige systematische Untersuchung von CHBs und CBs im Kontext des Alkoholkonsums. Die Baseline-Stichprobe bestand aus 898 Teilnehmenden (überwiegend Studierende, Durchschnittsalter 23.57 Jahre). Zur Berechnung explorativer und konfirmatorischer Faktorenanalysen wurde die Stichprobe mittels Split-Half Methode geteilt. Die Beziehung der CHBs und CBs mit gesundheitsbezogenen Variablen wurde mit Regressionsanalysen getestet. Die querschnittlichen Ergebnisse zeigen die Unterscheidbarkeit von CHBs und CBs. Im Gegensatz zu CHBs sind CBs positiv prädiktiv für die Intention, weniger Alkohol zu trinken sowie den Alkoholkonsum. Kompensatorisches Gesundheitsverhalten sollte daher bei der Untersuchung von Gesundheitsverhalten berücksichtigt werden.

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