Predicting Intended and Self-perceived Sugar Restriction among Tanzanian Students using the Theory of Planned Behavior

Journal of Health Psychology, July 2001, vol. 6, no. 4,   pp. 435-445(11)

Masalu J.R.[1]; Astrom A.N.

[1] University of Bergen, Norway

Abstract:

This study examines the applicability and sufficiency of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in predicting intention and self-perceived behavior with respect to avoiding between-meal intake of sugared snacks and drinks. One thousand one hundred and twenty-three Tanzanian students (mean age 26.4 years) completed self-administered questionnaires designed to measure the components of the TPB during May-July, 1999. Self-perceived sugar consumption was obtained in a subsample of respondents (n = 228) four weeks later. The TPB provided a significant prediction of intention (R² = 0.44), with attitude ( = 0.25), subjective norms ( = 0.28) and perceived behavioral control ( = 0.35) significant, and subsequent behavior (R² = 0.15, with intention ( = 0.25) and perceived behavioral control ( = 0.18) significant. Frequency of past behavior explained a significant, albeit small, amount of additional variance in intention (1 percent) and behavior (4 percent). The results indicate that the TPB is applicable to the prediction of food choice-related intention and behavior among young adult students living in a non-occidental setting.