Presenter(s)
Hannah Casselman, Megan Ekern, Ava Krolnik, Madeline Bersch, and Esther Gauerke
Abstract
Introduction: Proper nutrition is critical for a healthy lifestyle. Inadequate nutrition and sedentary lifestyles contribute to high obesity and health concerns, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. Two-thirds of U.S. adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. Reducing disease rates and improving health can be achieved through a nutritious diet, including consuming more fruits and vegetables. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in behaviors, like healthy eating, when they have strong intentions, positive attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Research suggests perceived behavioral control and supportive attitudes are crucial in predicting healthy eating habits. Furthermore, longitudinal data suggests that the TPB can predict healthy eating up to six years later. As an individual's intention stability intensifies, so does their intention and perceived past behavior, resulting in long term engagement with healthy eating behaviors.
Self-as-doer identity may be another way to promote healthy eating behavior. Self-as-doer identity is a way to describe identity as a person who performs a particular behavior, a doer of a task. Research demonstrates that self-as-doer identity interventions can increase healthy eating behaviors and explain the relationship between self-efficacy and healthy eating behaviors in people with diabetes. There is, however, a lack of research exploring whether doer identity explains the relationship between TPB components like intentions and healthy eating behaviors. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore whether seeing oneself as a healthy eater explains why intentions predict fruit and vegetable consumption in a non-clinical population.
Methods: Participants (N = 383, ages 17-74), completed a survey with questions about self-as-doer identity, intentions to eat healthy and healthy eating behaviors. Data were analyzed using a mediation model. Results: There was a significant indirect effect of intentions on fruit consumption through self as doer identity, b = 0.32, 95% BCa CI [0.17, 0.49]. There was also a significant indirect effect of intentions on vegetable consumption through self-as-doer identity, b = 0.15, 95% BCa CI [0.07, 0.23].
Discussion: Doer identity is a significant mediator for intentions and fruit and vegetable consumption, suggesting that as intentions increase, so does seeing oneself as a doer of healthy eating, and therefore eating more fruits and vegetables. This can help promote a healthy lifestyle and possibly decrease obesity and other health concerns. The doer identity could also be implemented into dietary plans and clinical settings for healthier eating. Study design was correlational, so we cannot infer causality or directionality. Likewise, the population was generally homogeneous (i.e., mostly young, white women), and data was self-report. Future researchers should use an experimental design using real-time food consumption data collection in a more diverse population. Researchers could also determine if this relationship holds cross-culturally and whether interventions to boost doer identities might cause more fruit and vegetable consumption.
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department
Psychology
Campus
Winona
First Advisor/Mentor
Amanda M. Brouwer
Location
Winona, Minnesota
Start Date
4-24-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
4-24-2025 10:00 AM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
1a=9am-10am
Poster Number
5
Included in
The Role of Self-as-Doer Identity in the Relationship between Intentions and Healthy Eating
Winona, Minnesota
Introduction: Proper nutrition is critical for a healthy lifestyle. Inadequate nutrition and sedentary lifestyles contribute to high obesity and health concerns, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. Two-thirds of U.S. adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. Reducing disease rates and improving health can be achieved through a nutritious diet, including consuming more fruits and vegetables. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in behaviors, like healthy eating, when they have strong intentions, positive attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Research suggests perceived behavioral control and supportive attitudes are crucial in predicting healthy eating habits. Furthermore, longitudinal data suggests that the TPB can predict healthy eating up to six years later. As an individual's intention stability intensifies, so does their intention and perceived past behavior, resulting in long term engagement with healthy eating behaviors.
Self-as-doer identity may be another way to promote healthy eating behavior. Self-as-doer identity is a way to describe identity as a person who performs a particular behavior, a doer of a task. Research demonstrates that self-as-doer identity interventions can increase healthy eating behaviors and explain the relationship between self-efficacy and healthy eating behaviors in people with diabetes. There is, however, a lack of research exploring whether doer identity explains the relationship between TPB components like intentions and healthy eating behaviors. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore whether seeing oneself as a healthy eater explains why intentions predict fruit and vegetable consumption in a non-clinical population.
Methods: Participants (N = 383, ages 17-74), completed a survey with questions about self-as-doer identity, intentions to eat healthy and healthy eating behaviors. Data were analyzed using a mediation model. Results: There was a significant indirect effect of intentions on fruit consumption through self as doer identity, b = 0.32, 95% BCa CI [0.17, 0.49]. There was also a significant indirect effect of intentions on vegetable consumption through self-as-doer identity, b = 0.15, 95% BCa CI [0.07, 0.23].
Discussion: Doer identity is a significant mediator for intentions and fruit and vegetable consumption, suggesting that as intentions increase, so does seeing oneself as a doer of healthy eating, and therefore eating more fruits and vegetables. This can help promote a healthy lifestyle and possibly decrease obesity and other health concerns. The doer identity could also be implemented into dietary plans and clinical settings for healthier eating. Study design was correlational, so we cannot infer causality or directionality. Likewise, the population was generally homogeneous (i.e., mostly young, white women), and data was self-report. Future researchers should use an experimental design using real-time food consumption data collection in a more diverse population. Researchers could also determine if this relationship holds cross-culturally and whether interventions to boost doer identities might cause more fruit and vegetable consumption.
