The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered a healthy and sustainable diet model. Nonetheless, in Italy, its adherence is declining; therefore, it becomes necessary to understand what psychosocial factors underlie healthy food choices and how to encourage them. The present research adopted as a theoretical framework the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1991), extended with self-identity as a healthy eater and past behavior. The research is carried out in two phases (T1 and T2) and the participants were 272 adults (53.3% women, 45.6% men; mean age 45.4 years). A first questionnaire was administered at T1, comprising measures of TPB constructs (cognitive and affective attitude, injunctive and descriptive subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention), self-identity as a healthy eater, and past behavior. After two weeks, at T2, the adhesion behavior was surveyed. The results showed that the model overall explained 48% of the intention’s variance and 41% of that in behavior. The most important intention predictor of intention was the descriptive norm. The addition of self-identity explained a further 2% of the variance in intention and that variable had a significant effect on intention, even after the introduction of past behavior. Self-identity and past behavior predict the behavior at T2. The introduction of self-identity into the model explained a further 4% of the variance in behavior. In conclusion, self-identity as a healthy eater can help to enact healthy eating behaviors, such as adhering to the MD.
La dieta mediterranea (DM) è considerata un modello di dieta sano e sostenibile. Ciononostante, in Italia, la sua adesione risulta essere in calo; diviene pertanto necessario capire quali siano i fattori psicosociali sottostanti le scelte alimentari sane e come incentivarne l’adesione. La presente ricerca ha utilizzato l’impianto teorico della Teoria del comportamento pianificato (Theory of Planned Behavior, TPB; Ajzen, 1991), estesa con la self-identity come persona che mangia sano e il comportamento passato. La ricerca si è svolta in due fasi (T1 e T2) e i partecipanti erano 272 adulti (53.3% donne, 45.6% uomini; età media 45.4 anni). Al T1 è stato somministrato un primo questionario, che rilevava i costrutti della TPB (l’atteggiamento cognitivo e affettivo, la norma soggettiva ingiuntiva e descrittiva, il controllo comportamentale percepito e l’intenzione), la self-identity come persona che mangia sano e il comportamento passato. Dopo due settimane, al T2, è stato misurato il comportamento di adesione alla DM messo in atto. I risultati hanno mostrato che il modello spiega nel complesso il 48% della varianza delle intenzioni e il 41% di quella del comportamento. Il predittore più importante dell’intenzione è risultato essere la norma descrittiva. L’aggiunta della self-identity ha spiegato un ulteriore 2% della varianza delle intenzioni; tale variabile presentava un effetto significativo anche dopo l’introduzione del comportamento passato. Il comportamento passato e la self-identity prevedono il comportamento. L’introduzione della self-identity nel modello ha spiegato un ulteriore 4% della varianza del comportamento. In conclusione, la self-identity come persona che mangia sano può favorire la messa in atto di comportamenti alimentari salutari, come l’adesione alla dieta mediterranea.
La Teoria del comportamento pianificato estesa con la self-identity. Uno studio sull’adesione alla dieta mediterranea negli adulti
BENACCHIO, STEFANO
2023/2024
Abstract
The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered a healthy and sustainable diet model. Nonetheless, in Italy, its adherence is declining; therefore, it becomes necessary to understand what psychosocial factors underlie healthy food choices and how to encourage them. The present research adopted as a theoretical framework the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1991), extended with self-identity as a healthy eater and past behavior. The research is carried out in two phases (T1 and T2) and the participants were 272 adults (53.3% women, 45.6% men; mean age 45.4 years). A first questionnaire was administered at T1, comprising measures of TPB constructs (cognitive and affective attitude, injunctive and descriptive subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention), self-identity as a healthy eater, and past behavior. After two weeks, at T2, the adhesion behavior was surveyed. The results showed that the model overall explained 48% of the intention’s variance and 41% of that in behavior. The most important intention predictor of intention was the descriptive norm. The addition of self-identity explained a further 2% of the variance in intention and that variable had a significant effect on intention, even after the introduction of past behavior. Self-identity and past behavior predict the behavior at T2. The introduction of self-identity into the model explained a further 4% of the variance in behavior. In conclusion, self-identity as a healthy eater can help to enact healthy eating behaviors, such as adhering to the MD.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/62401