Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Examining Risk Perceptions And Efficacy For Healthy Weight Management Among Appalachian College-Aged Students: A Test And Extension Of The Risk-Perception-Attitude Framework, Victoria Ann Ledford

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Obesity disproportionately affects Appalachia and poses a great risk to young adults who already enact poor health behaviors. Research indicates perceptions of risk and efficacy beliefs related to obesity-preventative behaviors are motivating for positive health-related behavioral change. Moreover, literature reveals that social and emotional risks of obesity may be just as motivating as physical risks. The Risk Perception Attitude (RPA) framework posits that efficacy moderates the effect of perceived risk on associated behavioral outcomes. However, neither the RPA nor other literature addresses the role of stigma in this relationship, though obesity stigma has been linked to a variety of negative …