Social Cognitive Determinants of Dietary Behavior Change in University Employees

• Main Authors: Shawna eDoerksen, Edward eMcAuley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-04-01
• Series: Frontiers in Public Health
• Subjects: Behavior; Workplace; self-efficacy; nutrition; social cognitive theory
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00023/full

Many adults have poor dietary habits and few studies have focused on mechanisms underlying these behaviors. This study examined psychosocial determinants of dietary behavior change in university employees across a 5-month period. Participants completed measures of fruit and vegetable and low-fat food consumption and social cognitive constructs. Multiple regression analyses accounted for a unique proportion of variation in dietary change. Outcome expectations significantly predicted fruit and vegetable and low-fat consumption. Self-efficacy significantly predicted low-fat consumption. Goals were not associated with dietary behaviors. Further research into implementation strategies may provide insight into how goals work to bring about change.