Messaging intervention for promoting self-monitoring of fruit and vegetable consumption

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Daniela Caso, Valentina Carfora
Publishing Year 2017 Issue 2017/1 Language Italian
Pages 15 P. 97-111 File size 223 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2017-001005
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The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB ‒ Ajzen, 1991) has been widely applied in predicting fruit and vegetable consumption. The aim of this pilot study was to test the applicability of the TPB model to the evaluation of a messaging intervention for promoting this healthy eating behaviour. Particularly, the intervention consisted in sending daily messages that promote self-monitoring of fruit and vegetable consumption. Participants (N=116 undergraduates; 30 M, 86 F; mean age=22.91, S. D.=8,33), were involved in a quasi-experimental design which manipulated the variable "messages vs no messages". After the intervention, experimental group (which received daily messages), compared with control (which did not receive messages), increased fruit and vegetable consumption. Moreover, intention mediated the effects of conditions on post-intervention consumption. Therefore, findings confirmed the predictive power of the TPB, which considers the behavioral intention as a cognitive antecedent of behavior. Although the limitations of the current pilot study, these results can be used to support new strategies for promoting healthy eating, which may use the messaging intervention as a more contextualized communication for the new generations.

Keywords: Theory of Planned Behavior, messaging intervention, fruit and vegetable promotion

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Daniela Caso, Valentina Carfora, Un intervento di messaggistica istantanea per la promozione del monitoraggio del consumo di frutta e verdura in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 1/2017, pp 97-111, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2017-001005