Determinants of Intentions to Adopt Healthy Dietary Behaviors Among University Students: A Theory-Based Approach

Abstract

Objectives The objective of this study was to explore personal, environmental, and behavioral factors that lead to intentions to adopt healthy dietary behaviors among university students aged 18–36 years. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 520 university students completed an online questionnaire, which was developed based on the Social Cognitive Theory, with some elements of the Theory of Planned Behavior. The questionnaire comprised personal, behavioral, and environmental factors, such as previous exposure to nutrition, media, modeling from parents and peers, as well as barriers, attitudes, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations, that may influence intentions to adopt healthy eating behaviors. Relationships between factors that may influence behavior intentions and the intentions were examined using multivariate linear regression. Results Out of the total 520 students, majority of the participants were women (69.6%) and Caucasian (54.4%). Social media and the Internet were reported as the main influencers of food choices by majority of the participants (73.9%). Results of this study showed that self-efficacy and media were significantly important factors on forming intentions to adopt healthy eating behaviors (P < 0.05). Positive attitude and food taste significantly predicted intentions to eat at least 3 servings of vegetables (P < 0.05); whereas, modeling from parents and peers was significantly important in intention to choose skim milk (P = 0.025). Previous exposure to nutrition class was not a significant factor in forming any of the eight healthy behavior intentions; however, it significantly influenced attitudes and self-efficacy (P < 0.05), which in turn significantly predicted the intentions to adopt healthy eating behaviors. Conclusions The results of this study underscore the importance of media influence, self-efficacy, and modeling from parents and friends, as direct predictors of healthy eating behaviors among college students. The findings also emphasize the role of nutrition exposure in influencing self-efficacy and positive attitudes towards intentions to practice healthy eating behaviors. Funding Sources None.