Predicting intention for protective health behaviour: A test of the protection versus the ordered protection motivation model

Tanner and his colleagues (Eppright, Tanner, & Hunt, 1994; Tanner, Day, & C rask, 1989; Tanner, Hunt, & Eppright, 1991) proposed a reformulation of Rog ers's (1983, 1984) protection motivation theory to include three major amen dments: (a) the inclusion of the emotional component of fear, (b) the seque ntial ordering of the threat-coping appraisal processes, and (c) the role o f maladaptive coping in an ordered protection motivation model. Using HIV/A IDS as the threat communication strategy, the present study tested the stru ctural relationships hypothesised for Rogers's protection motivation model and the reformulated ordered protection motivation model, and evaluated the overall and relative fit of the two competing models in predicting intenti on for condom use among 248 adults. The results suggested that Rogers's ori ginal protection motivation model may be a better representation of the way individuals evaluate health-threat information than the reformulated order ed protection motivation model. Results from path analysis also demonstrate d how the emotional component of fear and maladaptive coping modes operated differentially in the two models. Implications for the theory of protectio n motivation and its use in promoting good health behaviours are discussed.