Abstract EP39: Examining Capabilities, Opportunity, And Motivation For Healthy Eating Behaviors In Latin American Restaurants: A Quantitative Application Of The COM-B Model To Inform Future Interventions

Abstract

Introduction: Latin American restaurants (LARs) are an increasingly important food source with the potential to positively influence diets to promote cardiovascular health. Yet, modifiable factors influencing food choices in LARs remain unclear. Determinants frameworks, such as the Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivation for Behavior (COM-B Model) can help identify key drivers of dietary behaviors for informing intervention design. Objectives: (1) Apply the COM-B model to understand healthy eating behavior at LARs; (2) Examine differences in COM-B factors by ethnicity (Latin/Hispanic background), age, income, gender, and education. Methods: We developed a Likert scale to quantitatively assess the capabilities (physical and psychological), opportunities (social and physical), and motivation (reflective and automatic) factors associated with healthy eating in LARs. The scale was applied as part of an online survey with adults in the United States that reported eating food from LARs at least once a month (n=509). Bivariate analyses were used to examine the association between COM-B scores and demographic characteristics. Results: Within a possible range of 0-12, the mean COM-B total score was 7.35±1.97. Higher overall scores were significantly associated with being from a Latin background (p=0.04) and having a higher income (p=0.02). Within a possible range of 0-2 for COM-B area scores, the lowest score was found for Psychological Capability (0.95±0.97), where higher mean scores were found among men (p=0.03), older age (p=0.04), and those with higher education (p<0.001). The Social Opportunity score (1.04±0.48) was significantly associated with being younger (p=0.001) and of Latin background (p<0.001), while the Physical Opportunity score (1.27±0.55) was highest among those with lower education (p=0.04) and age (p=0.008). Reflective motivation presented the highest mean score (1.46±0.37) and was positively associated with high income (p=0.019) and education (p<0.001). No significant association with demographic characteristics was found for the Automatic Motivation and Physical Capability scores (1.21±0.53 and 1.43±0.73, respectively). Conclusions: This work addresses a research gap to inform future interventions to improve community food environments through work with LARs. The application of the COM-B revealed areas for intervention, particularly the need to improve knowledge (Psychological Capability) and social opportunity, the areas with the lowest scores, to promote healthier eating behaviors at LARs. Future research can be used to promote innovative ways to change perceptions of Latin foods in LARs and awareness of existing healthy offerings, which at the same time may help motivate LARs owners in increasing healthy offerings.