Healthy-eater Identity and Self-efficacy Predict Healthy Eating Behavior: A Prospective View

Abstract

Identity and Self-efficacy Theories were used to examine the relationship between healthy-eater identity, self-efficacy for healthy eating and healthy eating. Measures of healthy-eater identity, perception of healthy eating, nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy for both intake of fruits and vegetables and foods of low nutritional value were completed by 101 university students and staff. Two weeks later, participants recalled recent consumption of (a) fruits and vegetables and (b) foods of low nutritional value. For both eating outcomes, healthy-eater identity was a significant predictor after controlling for nutrition knowledge. The addition of self-efficacy improved prediction in the case of both eating outcomes.

Association of Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation with Nutrition and Exercise Behaviors in a Community Sample of Adults

“…Of the three nutrition behaviors (fruit/vegetable consumption, dinner cooking, and restaurant eating) assessed in our study, only fruit/vegetable consumption was associated with self-efficacy and self-regulation. This finding is in concert with previous studies that addressed positive association of self-efficacy and self-regulation with fruit/vegetable eating (Amnesi, 2011;Anderson et al, 2007;Strachan & Brawley, 2009). A previous study, however, SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-REGULATON found that higher self-efficacy was related to more frequent preparation of home-based meals and less eating outside the home, especially in fast-food restaurants (Morin, Demers, Turcotte, & Mongeau, 2013).…”

“…Literature shows that self-efficacy influences intention to eat fruits and vegetables in adults aged 20 to 65 without major medical problems (Guillaumie, Godin, Manderscheid, Spitz, & Muller, 2012). In addition, self-efficacy was found in previous studies to be a significant predictor of nutrition and physical activity among overweight or obese women (Fisher & Kridli, 2014), of dietary changes in a low-socioeconomic middle-aged rural population (Shannon et al, 1997), and of fruit/vegetable intakes among young adults (Horacek et al, 2002;Strachan & Brawley, 2009). …”

Healthy diet: Health impact, prevalence, correlates, and interventions

“…Commitment to healthy eating is further associated with an individual's social identity as a 'healthy eater' (e.g. Strachan & Brawley, 2009) or the internalisation of this behaviour and the values related to it (i.e. intrinsic motivation; Deci & Ryan, 2011).…”

“…Indeed, several studies have shown that higher self-efficacy has been associated with higher healthy food intake in various samples (e.g. Fitzgerald, Heary, Kelly, Nixon, & Shevlin, 2013;Strachan & Brawley, 2009), and self-efficacy has been found to be consistently related to fruit and vegetable consumption in two reviews (Guillaumie et al, 2010;Shaikh et al, 2008).…”

The effects of a counselling intervention on lifestyle change in people at risk of cardiovascular disease

“…High self-efficacy is associated with good adherence, but high self-efficacy is also required to begin to change one's lifestyle. [10][11][12][13] Purpose of the study In Finnish basic health care, new and more advanced health practices are usually introduced and developed through specially designed projects. These projects aim at improving preventative care in order to improve overall health.…”