Abstract
The present study examined the applicability of the Fishbein model to the behavior of adolescents. Participants in the study were 563 male and female high school students ranging in age from 13 to 18. Their attitudes toward the behavior (AB), the normative beliefs of parents and teachers (Adb), the normative belief of friends (Frb), and the intention (I) were measured in six behavioral contexts. The results strongly supported the model; that is, the attitudinal and normative variables were effective in predicting each behavioral intention, with a significant increment of R2 in both analyses regardless as to whether AB puls Adb or Frb were calculated in that order or in reverse order. The standardized regression coefficients of the model's variables explained the traits of each behavior well. The model was also effective in demonstrating the proposition about the behavior of adolescents. Concerning the reference group, relevant referents changed along the individual developmental stages. It was found that first grade junior students were more influenced by parents and teachers (Adb), but upper grade students were more influenced by friends (Frb).
