Page 56 - Zero for nine: Reducing alcohol use during pregnancy via health counselling and Internet-based computer-tailored feedback

Chapter 3
Model; De Vries, et al., 2003) provided the theoretical framework for this study. The I-Change Model combines several socio-cognitive behavioural models (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983; Janz & Becker, 1984; Ajzen 1985) and has been used effectively to assess important determinants of a diversity of health behaviours (e.g. De Vries, et al., 2006b; Hoving, Mudde & De Vries, 2006a; E.S. Smit, De Vries, & Hoving, 2013a). The I-Change Model posits that a person’s behaviour is the result of intentions and abilities. The motivational factors attitudes, social influences (De Vries, et al., 1994) and self-efficacy (Bandura, et al., 1988; De Vries, Dijkstra, & Kuhlman, 1988) determine the level of intention to execute a certain health behaviour, or in this case providing support to the pregnant spouse to abstain from alcohol use. The motivational factors are in turn determined by various predisposing factors (e.g. demographics and behavioural factors), information factors (e.g. messages and sources) and awareness factors (e.g. knowledge and risk perceptions).
This is the first study aiming to identify the correlates of partner support to abstain from prenatal alcohol use. The explorative nature demands that this study amplifies the differences in support between partners. We therefore tested differences between partners who were low versus high in partner support with regard to factors of the I-Change Model. Specifically, we tested whether partners low versus high in partner support differed with regard to predisposing (i.e. demographics, drinking behaviour and partner’s desire that his spouse abstains from alcohol use), information (i.e. advice about prenatal alcohol use and support), awareness (i.e. knowledge and risk perceptions), motivational factors (i.e. perceived pros and cons, social influences and self-efficacy) and intention.
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