Determining intention, fast food consumption and their related factors among university students by using a behavior change theory

Abstract

Background Today, with the advancement of science, technology and industry, people’s lifestyles such as the pattern of people’s food, have changed from traditional foods to fast foods. The aim of this survey was to examine and identify factors influencing intent to use fast foods and behavior of fast food intake among students based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 229 university students. The study sample was selected and entered to the study using stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using a four-part questionnaire including Participants’ characteristics, knowledge, the TPB variables, and fast food consumption behavior. The study data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16.0) using descriptive statistics (frequencies, Means, and Standard Deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test, Chi-square, correlation coefficient and multiple regressions). Results The monthly frequency of fast food consumption among students was reported 2.7 times. The TPB explained 35, 23% variance of intent to use fast food and behavior of fast food intake, respectively. Among the TPB variables, knowledge (r = .340, p < 0.001) and subjective norm (r = .318, p < 0.001) were known as important predictors of intention to consume fast foods - In addition, based on regression analyses, intention (r = .215, p < 0.05), perceived behavioral control (r = .205, p < 0.05), and knowledge (r = .127, p < 0.05) were related to fast food consumption, and these relationships were statistically significant. Conclusions The current study showed that the TPB is a good theory in predicting intent to use fast food and the actual behavior. It is supposed that health educators use from the present study results in designing appropriate interventions to improve nutritional status of students.

A Comparative Study on Behavioral Determinants of Fast-Food Consumption Behavior among Undergraduates in Kelantan, Malaysia

“…According to Seo et al (2011), behavioural intention and perceived behavioural control were significantly associated to fast-food consumption behaviour. This was currently supported by a study done among Medical Sciences students whereby behavioural intention was found to be highly correlated to fast food consumption with behavioural intention variable demonstrated greater significance in the association (Didarloo et al, 2022). Therefore, it can be concluded that based on this analysis, it was found that students from each faculty either FKP or FHPK, have contradicting determinants of their fast-food consumption behaviour, marking the achievement of research objective two.…”

“…These outputs also confirmed that the dimensions of TPB were strongly related to fastfood consumption behaviour; reflecting how individuals' attitude, behavioural subjective norms and perceived behavioural control can influence their fast-food consumption behaviour. Cited by Didarloo et al (2022), eating habits and behaviours can be predicted by TPB, which has also garnered the researchers' attention in recognizing beliefs and norms that are related to the fast-food consumption. Nevertheless, correlational analysis results involved FHPK showed that it has higher coefficient values as compared to FKP, which may be due to having a wellness program in the faculty, reflecting they are more health conscious and have better health awareness.…”

An Investigation into the Fast-Food Consumption Habits of Public Health and Nursing Students at the University of Sunderland in London, UK

“…It was reported that women with lower income had a higher mean BMI. 11 Around 48% of responders ingest fast food during lunchtime, 37.0% during the evening, and 9.8% during dinner with a frequency of twice a week for more than 90% of the responders. Similar results were reported for college students at the Midwestern land-grant university, where most students eat fast food during lunchtime at least once per week.…”

Fast-Food Consumption Intention among High School Students in Bangladesh

“…Foods made with lower nutritional value are classi ed as such by Seo, Lee, and Nam (2011). Fast-Food Consumption is linked to unsatisfactory nutrients intake and unhealthy dietary behaviors that increased the incidence of non-communicable diseases in the worldwide (Didarloo, Khalili, Aghapour, Moghaddam, & Mousavi, 2022). Globally, the consumption of fast food has signi cantly increased among people of different ages (AlTamimi et al, 2023).…”

“…In 2016, over 124 million children and adolescents, of whom 14% were obese (World Health Organization: WHO, 2021), and the gure is predicted to reach 2.7 billion by 2025 according to the WHO (Shori, Albaik, & Bokhari, 2017). In a study conducted in the United States on adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, a signi cant relationship was found between overweight and processed foods (Didarloo et al, 2022).…”