Exploring the theory of planned behavior to explain sugar-sweetened beverage consumption

Abstract

Objective: To describe sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and to establish psychometric properties and utility of a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) instrument for SSB consumption.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey included 119 southwest Virginia participants. Most of the respondents were female (66%), white (89%), and had at least a high school education (79%), and their average age was 41.4 ± 13.5 years. A validated beverage questionnaire was used to measure SSB. Eleven TPB constructs were assessed with a 56-item instrument. Analyses included descriptive statistics, 1-way ANOVA, Cronbach α, and multiple regression.

Results: Sugar-sweetened beverage intake averaged 457 ± 430 kcal/d. The TPB model provided a moderate explanation of SSB intake (R(2) = 0.38; F = 13.10, P < .01). Behavioral intentions had the strongest relationships with SSB consumption, followed by attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms. The 6 belief constructs did not predict significant variance in the models.

Conclusions and implications: Future efforts to comprehensively develop and implement interventions guided by the TPB hold promise for reducing SSB intake.

Copyright © 2012 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Internal Reliability of Scales (adjusted Cronbach α), One Example Item for Each Scale, and Relationships (Pearson Correlation Coefficients) among the Theory of Planned Behavior Constructs for Sugar Sweetened Beverage Consumption *P<0.001