Abstract
Aims Unhealthy eating behavior is a serious health concern among secondary school students in Inner Mongolia. To predict their healthy food choices and devise methods of correcting unhealthy choices, we sought to confirm the cross-cultural validity of the theory of planned behavior among Inner Mongolian students. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study, conducted between November and December 2014. Overall, 3047 students were enrolled. We devised a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior to measure its components (intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) in relation to healthy food choices; we also assessed their current engagement in healthy food choices. Results A principal component analysis revealed high contribution rates for the components (69.32%–88.77%). A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the components of the questionnaire had adequate model fit (goodness of fit index = 0.997, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.984, comparative fit index = 0.998, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.049). Notably, data from participants within the suburbs did not support the theory of planned behavior construction. Several paths did not predict the hypothesis variables. However, attitudes toward healthy food choices strongly predicted behavioral intention (path coefficients 0.49–0.77, p < 0.01), regardless of demographic characteristics. Conclusion Our results support that the theory of planned behavior can apply to secondary school students in urban areas. Furthermore, attitudes towards healthy food choices were the best predictor of behavioral intentions to engage in such choices in Inner Mongolian students.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S497-S501 |
| Journal | Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews |
| Volume | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 Nov 1 |
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Keywords
- Health promotion
- Healthy food choice
- Inner Mongolia
- Nutrition
- Theory of planned behavior
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Cite this
Cross-cultural validity of the theory of planned behavior for predicting healthy food choice in secondary school students of Inner Mongolia. / Shimazaki, Takashi; Bao, Hugejiletu; Deli, Geer; Uechi, Hiroaki; Lee, Ying Hua; Miura, Kayo; Takenaka, Koji.
In: Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, Vol. 11, 01.11.2017, p. S497-S501.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cross-cultural validity of the theory of planned behavior for predicting healthy food choice in secondary school students of Inner Mongolia
AU - Shimazaki, Takashi
AU - Bao, Hugejiletu
AU - Deli, Geer
AU - Uechi, Hiroaki
AU - Lee, Ying Hua
AU - Miura, Kayo
AU - Takenaka, Koji
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - Aims Unhealthy eating behavior is a serious health concern among secondary school students in Inner Mongolia. To predict their healthy food choices and devise methods of correcting unhealthy choices, we sought to confirm the cross-cultural validity of the theory of planned behavior among Inner Mongolian students. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study, conducted between November and December 2014. Overall, 3047 students were enrolled. We devised a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior to measure its components (intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) in relation to healthy food choices; we also assessed their current engagement in healthy food choices. Results A principal component analysis revealed high contribution rates for the components (69.32%–88.77%). A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the components of the questionnaire had adequate model fit (goodness of fit index = 0.997, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.984, comparative fit index = 0.998, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.049). Notably, data from participants within the suburbs did not support the theory of planned behavior construction. Several paths did not predict the hypothesis variables. However, attitudes toward healthy food choices strongly predicted behavioral intention (path coefficients 0.49–0.77, p < 0.01), regardless of demographic characteristics. Conclusion Our results support that the theory of planned behavior can apply to secondary school students in urban areas. Furthermore, attitudes towards healthy food choices were the best predictor of behavioral intentions to engage in such choices in Inner Mongolian students.
AB - Aims Unhealthy eating behavior is a serious health concern among secondary school students in Inner Mongolia. To predict their healthy food choices and devise methods of correcting unhealthy choices, we sought to confirm the cross-cultural validity of the theory of planned behavior among Inner Mongolian students. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study, conducted between November and December 2014. Overall, 3047 students were enrolled. We devised a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior to measure its components (intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) in relation to healthy food choices; we also assessed their current engagement in healthy food choices. Results A principal component analysis revealed high contribution rates for the components (69.32%–88.77%). A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the components of the questionnaire had adequate model fit (goodness of fit index = 0.997, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.984, comparative fit index = 0.998, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.049). Notably, data from participants within the suburbs did not support the theory of planned behavior construction. Several paths did not predict the hypothesis variables. However, attitudes toward healthy food choices strongly predicted behavioral intention (path coefficients 0.49–0.77, p < 0.01), regardless of demographic characteristics. Conclusion Our results support that the theory of planned behavior can apply to secondary school students in urban areas. Furthermore, attitudes towards healthy food choices were the best predictor of behavioral intentions to engage in such choices in Inner Mongolian students.
KW - Health promotion
KW - Healthy food choice
KW - Inner Mongolia
KW - Nutrition
KW - Theory of planned behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85017371012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85017371012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.dsx.2017.03.043
DO - 10.1016/j.dsx.2017.03.043
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - S497-S501
JO - Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews
JF - Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews
SN - 1871-4021
ER -