Altruistic behaviour decreases agent's unhealthy food intake: Based on the self‐determination theory model of vitality

Abstract

This study explored whether altruistic behaviour would decrease agent's unhealthy food intake, and whether vitality and state self‐control would sequentially mediate this effect based on the Self‐Determination Theory Model of Vitality. It included 1019 college students in total across three studies. Study 1 was a laboratory experiment. By framing a physical task as a helping behaviour or a neutral experimental task, we examined whether these framed tasks impacted participants' subsequent unhealthy food intake levels. Study 2 was an online investigation measuring the relationship between donation (vs. no donation) behaviour and participant's estimated unhealthy food intake level. Study 3 was an online experiment with a mediation test. By random assignment of conducting a donation behaviour versus a neutral task, we examined whether these behaviours affected participants' vitality, state self‐control, and estimated unhealthy food intake levels. In addition, we tested a sequential mediation model with vitality and state self‐control as the mediators. Both unhealthy and healthy foods were included in Study 2 and 3. Results showed that altruistic behaviour could decrease agent's unhealthy (but not healthy) food intake, and this effect was sequentially mediated by vitality and state self‐control. The findings highlight that altruistic acts may buffer agents against unhealthy eating behaviour.