Population psychology: A new look at an old problem

Based on a theoretical model developed by M. Fishbein , it was predicted that an individual's intention to engage in a specific family planning behavior is a function of 2 components: (a) one's belief about the consequences of performing that behavior multiplied by the evaluation of those consequences (SBiai) and (b) one's normative beliefs multiplied by one's motivation to comply with those perceived norms (SNB(Mc)). A questionnaire assessing the model's components for 3 family planning behaviors (having a 2-child family, having a child during the next 2 yrs, and using birth control pills) was administered to a random sample of 270 midwestern married females, stratified by religion and socioeconomic status. Consistent with the model, SBiai and SNB(Mc) explained an average of 60% of the variance in intentions. It was also found that as the measure of attitude deviates in specificity from the measure of intention, the attitude-intention correlation decreased. Accordingly, the more specific attitude-toward-the-act measure was a better predictor of family planning intentions than the traditional attitude-toward-the-object measure. (26 ref)