Explaining Changes In Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Using The Theory Of Planned Behaviour: The Fresh Facts Trial

1. EXPLAINING CHANGES IN FRUIT
AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION
USING THE THEORY OF
PLANNED BEHAVIOUR:
THE FRESH FACTS TRIAL
EMILY KOTHE

2. BACKGROUND
oAustralian young adults are less likely than any other age
group to consume adequate quantities of fruit and
vegetables.1
oThe theory of planned behaviour has previously been found
to predict a large proportion of the variance in intake in this
population. 2,3,4
oTo determine whether change in fruit and vegetable
consumption in the FreshFacts study could be explained by
change in theory of planned behaviour cognitions

3. METHOD
oUniversity undergraduates (N=162) completed a theory of
planned behaviour intervention designed to increase fruit
and vegetable intake.
oParticipants were randomised to either the intervention or
control conditions.
oAll participants completed a theory of planned behaviour
questionnaire and a self-report measure of fruit and
vegetable consumption at baseline and immediate post-
intervention follow-up (Day 30).

4. METHOD
Baseline
assessment
(n=180)
Control Intervention
(n=90) (n=90)
Follow-up assessment
(n=162)

5. FRUIT AND VEG @ T1
• Theory of planned behaviour accounted for 24% of variance in
fruit and vegetable intake at baseline.
Attitude
.42 .37 Fruit and
Subjective Norm Intention
vegetable intake
Perceived
behavioural
control

6. FRUIT AND VEG @ T2
• Theory of planned behaviour accounted for 17% of variance in
fruit and vegetable intake at follow-up.
Attitude
.40 .18 Fruit and
Subjective Norm Intention
vegetable intake
Perceived
behavioural
control

7. CHANGE IN FRUIT AND VEG
• Theory of planned behaviour accounted for just 2.3% of
variance in change in fruit and vegetable consumption.
Attitude
.11 .03 Fruit and
Subjective Norm Intention
vegetable intake
Perceived
behavioural
control

8. CONCLUSIONS
oTheory of planned behaviour did not predict change in fruit
and vegetable consumption
oFailure of the theory to predict change in fruit and vegetable
consumption may reflect artifacts of the study design.
oHowever, these results are consist with other recent studies
based on the theory.5

9. FUTURE DIRECTIONS
oResearchers should not assume that theories that successfully
predict behaviour (either cross-sectionally or prospectively)
will adequately model change in behaviour.
oMore research on the mediation of behaviour change through
theory relevant pathways are needed to confirm or clarify
these findings.

10. THANK YOU
emily.kothe@deakin.edu.au