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Exploring the role of intrinsic motivation in healthy eating intentions: An extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior in Chinese adults
Unhealthy diets are a primary contributor to obesity, which heightens the risk of chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. This research extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by incorporating motivation as a mediating variable to assess how attitudes and subjective norms influence motivation, which subsequently affects behavioral intention. Data were collected through an online survey conducted between 2019 and 2023, involving 2114 adults from Beijing, Shanghai, and selected regions of Anhui, Daqing, and Henan. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships among the TPB constructs, motivation, and behavioral intention. The SEM analysis demonstrated significant correlations between attitudes and subjective norms with motivation. Furthermore, motivation and perceived behavioral control (PBC) were significantly linked to behavioral intention. Notably, motivation mediated the relationships between attitude and intention, as well as between subjective norms and intention. In conclusion, the findings suggest that attitudes and subjective norms have a positive influence on motivation towards healthy eating among Chinese adults. Moreover, motivation, alongside PBC, is crucial in predicting behavioral intention. Future research should delve deeper into the mediating role of motivation within the TPB framework to further elucidate its impact on healthy eating intentions. [NPID: TPB, eating, motivation, intentions, behavioral, attitudes, theory of planned behavior]
Year: 2025
