Affiliation:
1. Fachbereich Psychologie, Paris‐Lodron Universität Salzburg Salzburg Austria
2. Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Paris‐Lodron Universität Salzburg Salzburg Austria
3. Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen Bremen Germany
4. Division of Prevention Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health (CPD), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
Abstract
AbstractObjectivesA healthy diet is essential for preventing chronic disease and promoting overall health. Translating one's intention to eat healthy into actual behaviour has, however, proven difficult with a range of internal and contextual factors identified as driving eating behaviour.DesignWe leverage Temporal Self‐Regulation Theory to examine these momentary determinants' direct and moderating effects on the intention–behaviour relation with Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA).MethodsEighty‐seven healthy participants (mage = 24.1 years; 59 women, 28 men) reported, 5 times daily for 10 weekdays, their intentions to stick to a self‐set dietary restriction goal for the next 3 hr, the goal congruency of their eating behaviour in the past 3 hr, and a range of factors potentially influencing food intake, such as stress, emotions and environmental eating cues.ResultsTwo‐part multilevel modelling revealed that craving, availability of goal‐incongruent foods, social eating cues, giving in to other temptations and weaker momentary intentions directly increased the risk and severity of goal‐incongruent intake within the next 3 hr. Social cues, stress and craving further influence behaviour through altering intention implementation.ConclusionsResults imply that people regularly fail to implement intentions for 3‐hr periods and that a range of factors influences this, both directly and by disrupting intentional processes. While for some barriers, fostering strong intentions throughout the day could be beneficial, others require different strategies for dietary adherence.