The Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) of Costa Rica provided funding for Study 1. The German Research Council (DFG) approved and funded Study 2.
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Self-Efficacy and Planning Predict Dietary Behaviors in Costa Rican and South Korean Women: Two Moderated Mediation Analyses
Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01004.x
© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 International Association of Applied Psychology
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How to Cite
Gutiérrez-Doña, B., Lippke, S., Renner, B., Kwon, S. and Schwarzer, R. (2009), Self-Efficacy and Planning Predict Dietary Behaviors in Costa Rican and South Korean Women: Two Moderated Mediation Analyses. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 1: 91–104. doi: 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01004.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 JAN 2009
- Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- dietary behavior;
- intentions;
- moderated mediation;
- physical activity;
- planning;
- self-efficacy
Dietary planning is supposed to mediate between intentions and dietary behaviors. However, if a person lacks self-efficacy, this mediation might fail. A cross-sectional study in Costa Rica and a longitudinal study in South Korea were designed to examine the moderating role of self-efficacy in the intention–planning–behavior relationship. Intentions, planning, self-efficacy, dietary behaviors, and baseline diet were assessed. Study 1 included 245 women; Study 2 included 358 women. Moderated mediation models were specified in which planning served as a mediator between intentions and behavior. Self-efficacy was specified as a moderator of the intention–planning–behavior relationship. Intentions were translated into dietary behavior by planning. However, levels of self-efficacy moderated this mediation process: The strength of the mediated effect increased along with levels of self-efficacy, even when accounting for baseline dietary behaviors. For planning to mediate the intention–behavior relation, people must harbor sufficient levels of self-efficacy. If they lack self-efficacy, either intentions are not well translated into planning, or planning is not well translated into behavior. Further research needs to clarify under which circumstances the moderator effect of self-efficacy operates in the first phase or the second phase of the mediation process.