Exploring rational and automatic processes in parents’ snack and beverage provision: The role of self-control, intention, and counter-intentional habit

Abstract

The prevalence of childhood obesity remains high, even among young children under 5 years of age. As parents are usually the key providers of food within the home for young children, it is important to understand influences on parental snack and beverage provision. Previous research in this domain is yet to investigate the role of both rational and automatic processes in parents' provision of unhealthy snacks and beverages to their children. Subsequently, the aim of this study was to explore the influence of both habit and self-regulation on parents' behaviours related to providing unhealthy snacks to their child. Two-hundred and forty-nine parents of a child between two and three years of age were recruited via CloudResearch for this prospective study. Parents completed self-report measures of their intention, habit, and self-control related to snack and beverage provision to their child at time-one. One week later, parents self-reported their unhealthy snack and beverage provision over the previous week. Two hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the role of parents' intention, habit, and self-control in predicting their unhealthy snack and beverage provision. Results suggest that both habit and self-control influence parents’ unhealthy snack and beverage provision. However, self-control plays an important role in strengthening the intention-behaviour relationship, and in limiting the impact of opposing habits on behaviour. Interventions that focus on modifying self-control would be useful for improving unhealthy snack and beverage provision among parents with young children.