Norms and their relationship to behavior in worksite settings: an application of the Jackson Return Potential Model

Am J Health Behav. 2005 May-Jun;29(3):258-68. doi: 10.5993/ajhb.29.3.7.

Abstract

Objectives: To measure health norms and assess their influence on behavior among 2541 employees in 16 manufacturing worksites using an adapted Jackson's Return Potential Model (RPM).

Methods: Worksite-level norm intensity, crystallization, and normative power were calculated for several behaviors; linear regression analyses tested whether normative power was related to each health behavior.

Results: Norms about safe work practices and smoking were most intense; norms about safe work practices were most crystallized. Safe work practices and smoking held the highest normative power; healthy eating held the least normative power.

Conclusions: Comparing norm characteristics across health behaviors leads to important leverage points for intervening to influence norms and improve worker health.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Industry
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological*
  • Occupational Health*
  • Workplace