Abstract: Temporal self-regulation theory (TST), based on the intention-behavior link, is a new theoretical framework which emphasizes the combined influence of temporality, behavioral prepotency and self-regulatory capacity on health behavior. According to TST, connectedness beliefs and temporal valuations affect intentions; behavioral prepotency and self-regulatory capacity not only adjust the strength of the intention-behavior link, but also affect human behavior directly. Compared with other health behavior models, the major difference is the inclusion of self-regulation and time factors that affect human behavior. Future research can further specify intervention strategies of health behavior and give behavioral prepotency an appropriate position as well.

Key words: health behavior, temporality, the intention-behavior link, behavioral prepotency, self-regulatory capacity