Evans, R. orcid.org/0000-0002-3121-6360, Norman, P. orcid.org/0000-0002-5892-0470 and Webb, T.L. (2017) Using Temporal Self-Regulation Theory to understand healthy and unhealthy eating intentions and behaviour. Appetite, 116. pp. 357-364. ISSN 0195-6663
Abstract
Objectives: The present research investigated whether Temporal Self-Regulation Theory (TST) can be used to help understand healthy and unhealthy eating intentions and behaviour.
Design: A prospective design with two waves of data collection one week apart.
Method: An online survey measured the key components of TST (i.e., connectedness, timing and valence beliefs, intentions, past behaviour, habit strength, perceived environmental cues, and self-control) with respect to eating fruit and vegetables (F&V; N = 133) or unhealthy snacks (N = 125). Eating behaviour was assessed one week later.
Results: The components of TST explained significant amounts of the variance in intentions and behaviour for intake of F&Vs (22% and 64%, respectively) and unhealthy snacks (18% and 35%, respectively). Beliefs about positive and negative short-term outcomes significantly predicted intentions to perform both behaviours. Intentions and past behaviour significantly predicted consumption of F&Vs, and past behaviour moderated the relationship between intention and behaviour which became stronger as past behaviour increased. Past behaviour and habit strength significantly predicted unhealthy snacking.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that TST may be a useful framework for understanding eating intentions and behaviour. However, research did not find support for all of the hypothesised relationships (e.g., self-regulatory capacity did not significantly predict eating behaviour and also failed to moderate the relationships between intentions and behaviour). Research using alternative measures of self-regulatory capacity, along with experimental manipulations of TST variables, may be needed to further understand eating intentions and behaviour.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Fruit and vegetable intake; Habits; Past behaviour; Self-control; Temporal Self-Regulation theory; Snacking |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 23 May 2017 14:20 |
Last Modified: | 06 Oct 2023 10:30 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.05.022 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.appet.2017.05.022 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:116806 |