Engagement in Health Behavior Scale: Development and initial psychometric evidence

Testing the effectiveness of an SCT-based training program in enhancing health self-efficacy and outcome expectations among college peer educators.

“…The scale has been shown to be significantly related to motivation, behavioral intentions, and reported health behaviors (Schwarzer & Renner, 2000). Additionally, the four subscale and total scale scores yielded satisfying reliability estimates (e.g., ≥.90) and the total score was found to be positively correlated with health outcome expectations and social support in a diverse college student sample (Sheu et al, 2016). In the present study, the total scale score was used to measure participants’ self-efficacy and yielded good internal consistency estimates at pretest (α = .82), posttest (α = .82), and follow-up (α = .94) in the full sample (Table 1).…”

“…Health self-efficacy (HSE) was assessed using an adapted version of the Health-Specific Self-Efficacy Scale (HSSES; Schwarzer & Renner, 2000; Sheu et al, 2016). This 16-item measure is designed to tap self-efficacy beliefs for coping with challenges that may arise when engaging in four health-related behaviors including nutrition (5 items), physical activity (5 items), alcohol resistance (3 items), and tobacco resistance (3 items) among college populations.…”

“…Items are rated on a 10-point Likert-type scale ranging from 0 ( strongly disagree ) to 9 ( strongly agree ), with higher scores indicating more favorable outcome expectations for engaging in the four types of health-related behaviors. Prior research showed that the four subscale and total scale score had adequate internal consistency estimates (≥.90), 4-week test–retest reliability (.76), and was found to be positively correlated with health coping self-efficacy, motivation for healthiness, and physical health status in a diverse college student sample (Sheu et al, 2016). In the present study, the HBOES total score was used as a measure of participants’ health outcome expectations and produced acceptable internal consistency estimates at pretest (α = .92), posttest (α = .94), and follow-up (α = .93) in the full sample.…”

“…Health outcome expectations (HOE), defined as perceived positive physical, social, or psychological outcomes for engaging in health-related behaviors, was assessed using the Health Behavior Outcome Expectations Scale (HBOES; Sheu et al, 2016). The HBOES is a 26-item measure designed to tap perceived positive outcomes for engaging in healthy eating (5 items), physical activity (10 items), limiting alcohol use (6 items), and limiting tobacco use (5 items) among generally healthy, nonclinical populations.…”