Who formulates self-regulatory action plans regarding fruit consumption? An application of the Big Five personality theory

Abstract

Objective: Action planning is regarded as an important correlate and predictor of health behaviour, but little is known about antecedents of action planning. Because personality constructs have been shown to moderate the effect of action planning interventions, the present study tested associations of personality dimensions with action planning and fruit consumption. Design and setting: Cross-sectional data collected with self-administered questionnaires in a university setting. Method: Undergraduate students ( n = 443; mean age = 21.45 (SD = 2.96) years, 68.7% females) who participated for course credits and completed measures of personality dimensions, action planning, intention, and fruit consumption based on validated questionnaires. The first set of analyses focused on antecedents of fruit consumption action planning employing stepwise regression analysis. The second set of analyses focused on intention and action planning as mediators of the personality–fruit consumption link using structural equation modelling. Results: Higher scores for fruit consumption action planning were found for more conscientiousness and less neurotic individuals. Further, more conscientious individuals consumed more fruits and this relationship was mediated by action planning. Conclusion: Findings provide support for action planning as a mediator in the Conscientiousness–fruit consumption link and suggest that personality influences may need to be taken into account when developing action planning strategies aimed at increasing fruit consumption.