The road to behaviour is paved with good intention...and willpower! Intentions and trait self-control predict fruit and vegetable consumption during the transition to first-year university

Abstract

Health behaviours such as physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) decline in early adulthood (Baranowski et al.,1999). While the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) can be used to predict such behaviours, moderators have been suggested (Conner & Armitage,1998). As FVC may require self-monitoring, trait self-control (TSC) may moderate the intention-behavior relationship (Crescioni et al.,2011). The purpose of this study was to examine the independent and combined effects of intention and TSC on FVC among first-year students. We hypothesized that the TPB would predict FVC intentions and behaviour, and TSC would be associated with higher FVC. In their first week at university, students (N=76, Mage=18.00±0.49) completed the 13-item Brief TSC (Tangney et al.,2004) and a TPB questionnaire (Ajzen,1991) about their FVC. One week later, they completed a 7-day food diary, from which daily FVC was calculated. Attitude (ß=.20) and PBC (ß=.64, ps=.02) were significant predictors of intentions (adjR2=.34). Intentions (ß=.45) and TSC (ß=.21, ps=.05) predicted FVC (adjR2=.24), but PBC and interactions were not significant. Findings support the TPB and further our understanding of factors associated with health behaviours during young adulthood. Although intentions and TSC were linked to FVC, most students ate <3 servings/day with only 1.3% eating the recommended 7+ servings. Follow-up data suggest affordability and availability are barriers to FVC in first-year university.