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Food Choice and Nutrition: A Social Psychological Perspective
This Special Issue identifies three primary themes in the context of food choice and nutrition from a social psychological perspective: social and environmental influences, psychological factors, and eating behavior profiling.
Research on social and environmental influences suggests that future studies should focus on promoting positive food choices instead of merely reducing negative ones. Key recommendations include enhancing the understanding of food labels and improving the marketing of healthy options through better accessibility and presentation.
Psychological influences revealed that factors such as intentions, perceived behavioral control, and confidence are significant predictors of healthy eating. Interventions should aim to lower barriers to healthy eating and enhance self-efficacy to encourage individuals to adopt healthier diets.
The final theme highlights the categorization of individuals based on their eating behaviors. Certain profiles show a higher propensity to consume fast food and convenience meals, alongside greater disinhibition and reduced control over cravings. The article advocates intervention strategies that incorporate multi-level approaches, as proposed by the Ecological Model of Behavior Change, combining psychological, social, and environmental factors. Such comprehensive strategies are expected to be more effective in engaging individuals prone to unhealthy eating habits than single-level interventions. [NPID: Ecological Model of Behavior Change, eating behavior, social, environmental]
Year: 2026
