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Soft drinks for lunch? Self-control, intentions and social influences

Elisabeth Lind Melbye (Norwegian School of Hotel Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway)
Merete Hagen Helland (Department of Education and Sports Science, Faculty of Arts and Education, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway)

British Food Journal

ISSN: 0007-070X

Article publication date: 8 August 2018

Issue publication date: 16 August 2018

436

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore associations between food-related self-control, intentions, descriptive peer norms, parents’ healthy eating guidance and adolescents’ consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in a school lunch setting. An additional aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the measure used to assess food-related self-control in order to reveal potential multi-dimensionality.

Design/methodology/approach

A web-based survey was conducted among 694 Norwegian high school students. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore associations between the independent variables and SSB consumption. Psychometric evaluation of the self-control measure included factor analysis and internal consistency reliability.

Findings

Factor analysis resulted in two food-related self-control dimensions: resistance and avoidance. Multiple logistic regression showed that intentions was the strongest predictor of SSB consumption in the sample. Avoidance and descriptive peer norms appeared as weaker predictors.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the findings, the authors suggest that future studies may consider developing guiding principles on how to create health-promoting eating intentions in adolescents, how to deal with peer norms related to foods and beverages and how to avoid tempting stimuli in the environment. Such strategies may be helpful when structural changes in the environment are not feasible in the near future.

Originality/value

An original aspect of the present study is that it includes a psychometric analysis of a supposedly one-dimensional self-control measure. Further, it adds to the knowledge about variables associated with adolescent SSB consumption in a school lunch context.

Keywords

Citation

Melbye, E.L. and Helland, M.H. (2018), "Soft drinks for lunch? Self-control, intentions and social influences", British Food Journal, Vol. 120 No. 8, pp. 1735-1748. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-11-2017-0605

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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