Prediction of Eating Behaviors Among High-School Students Based on the Constructs of Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract

Background and Aim: Adolescence is among the most critical periods of growth and development. In this period, the quality of nutrition goes down with age. Thus, it is really important to pay special attention to adolescents’ nutritional status. This study aimed at identifying the predictors of eating behaviors among high-school students based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in 2013 - 2014 in Birjand, Iran, on 457 female students. Participants were selected through two-stage cluster random sampling. A three-part instrument was used for data collection. The instrument contained items on participants’ demographic characteristics, TPB constructs (namely attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention), and eating behaviors. The data were analyzed by employing SPSS software (v. 16) and through conducting Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses at the significance level of less than 0.05. Findings: The constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior predicted 53.8% and 30% of the variances of behavioral intention and eating behaviors, respectively. The strongest and the weakest predictors of behavioral intention were perceived behavioral control (P < 0.001 and β = 0.56) and subjective norms (P < 0.005 and β = 0.05), respectively. The construct of eating behaviors was significantly correlated with all constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior. The strongest predictor of eating behaviors was behavioral intention. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that the Theory of Planned Behavior can successfully predict students’ behavioral intention and eating behaviors. The power of the theory in predicting intention is greater than its power in predicting behavior. All constructs of the theory were significant predictors of behavioral intention and therefore, all these constructs need to be taken into account when developing interventions.