Testing a social cognitive process model for predicting redonation behavior among blood donors: A longitudinal study

It is important to understand how multidimensional factors, such as observational learning, knowledge, and self-reinforcement, operate in influencing repeated blood donation (RBD) behavior, so that effective interventions can be designed to improve RBD. Grounded in social-cognitive theory, health action process approach, and theory of planned behavior, the present study aimed to test a three-stage social-cognitive process model in predicting RBD behavior.

A total of 850 blood donors (390 females, 460 males; M_age = 25.29 ± 7.16) were recruited from blood donation sites in Zhejiang, China, and completed an online survey measuring the factors from social-cognitive theory at baseline, and their RBD behavior was followed up by checking the blood donation record from the database of the Blood Center in Zhejiang Province 6 months later. Structural equation modeling was used to test the three-stage social-cognitive process models.

Structural equation modeling analyses supported a three-stage social-cognitive process model in which, in the first stage, information sources (observational learning and positive and negative experiences) were associated with outcome expectation. In the second stage, outcome expectation and maintenance self-efficacy serially mediated the relationship between information sources and RBD intention/behavior. In the third stage, RBD intention fully mediated the influence of negative experiences, outcome expectation, and maintenance self-efficacy on RBD behavior.

This study offers valuable insights for designing effective interventions to enhance RBD. Interventions aiming at promoting RBD behavior should reinforce positive outcome expectations and maintenance self-efficacy and mitigate negative experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).