Structural equation model of goal-directed behavior predicting sleep behavior of working adults

Background. Insufficient sleep is associated with increased risk of unintentional, occupational injuries. The Model of Goal-Directed Behavior (MGDB) is an extension of Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior, and hypothesizes that intentions are primarily motivated by desires. The purpose of this study was to test the MGDB for predicting sleep behavior in working adults. Methods. The model tested the extent to which eight variables–anticipated emotions, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, desires, intention, frequency of past behavior, and recency of past behavior–predicted adequate sleep behavior. A cross-sectional, convenience sample of working adults (n=200) were recruited from Southeastern region of the United States to participate. Participant-to-parameter ratio of 5:1 was used to calculate sample size. Results. Instrumentation for model development encompassed three stages. Stage 1 evaluated face and content validity of the instrument by an expert panel. Stage two ascertained stability of the model by requesting 30 participants complete the instrument three separate times, with two weeks between administrations. Stage 3 evaluated validity of the model through structural equation modeling. The final model was tested against a priori goodness-of-fit indices of χ² value of p > .05, GFI > .90, RMSEA < 0.05, and NFI > 0.90.Conclusions. Individuals obtaining inadequate sleep are more likely to report absenteeism, unintentional sleep during work hours, and work-related accidents. From a performance perspective, sleep restriction increases human error rate, diminishes drive and motivation, and curtails emotional coping and stress managing capabilities. The MGDB is a practical framework for predicting sleep behavior in working adults.