AUTHOR=Doerksen Shawna , McAuley Edward TITLE=Social Cognitive Determinants of Dietary Behavior Change in University Employes JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=2 YEAR=2014 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00023 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2014.00023 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=

Many adults have poor dietary habits and few studies have focused on mechanisms underlying these behaviors. This study examined psychosocial determinants of dietary behavior change in university employes across a 5-month period. Participants completed measures of fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) and low fat food consumption (LFC) and social cognitive constructs. Multiple regression analyses accounted for a unique proportion of variation in dietary change. Outcome expectations significantly predicted FVC and LFC. Self-efficacy significantly predicted LFC. Goals were not associated with dietary behaviors. Further research into implementation strategies may provide insight into how goals work to bring about change.