Only the best for my kids: An extended TPB model to understand mothers’ use of food labels

Abstract

Despite the evidence that mothers’ food purchasing behavior impacts the quality of children’s diet, few studies have explored psycho-social factors influencing how mothers choose the food to buy for their children. To fill this gap, this study tested an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to predict mothers’ tendency to seek information on food labels before purchasing food for children. Participants included 311 Italian mothers who completed a self-report questionnaire measuring their information-seeking behavior, TPB variables, anticipated regret and healthy-eater identity. Results from a Multiple Correspondence Analysis showed that mothers’ information-seeking behavior involved a continuum of choices ranging from selecting conventional or prepackaged foods to choosing to read the food label before making a purchase. Besides, a Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling analysis showed that information-seeking behavior was positively predicted by intention (β = 0.309, p < 0.001) and healthy-eater identity (β = 0.195, p < 0.001). In turn, intention was positively affected by attitude (β = 0.208, p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.155, p < 0.01), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.124, p < 0.05), anticipated regret (β = 0.193, p < 0.001), and healthy-eater identity (β = 0.191, p < 0.001). These findings emphasize that future initiatives could usefully target attitude, anticipated regret and self-identity to encourage mothers’ informed food choices for their children.