PREDICTING FAT IN DIETS OF MARITAL PARTNERS USING THE HEALTH BELIEF MODEL

The objective of this investigation is to use the health belief model (HEM) to explain the percentage of calories from fat in the diet (PCF) for marital partners. The model includes four sets of determinate var iables: perceived threat of a high-fat diet, barriers to a healthier d iet, food choices made for health reasons, and self-efficacy, as well as sociodemographic background factors. One hundred fifty-jive married couples were selected by a random area sample from the state of Iowa. Husbands and wives were interviewed separately in the home. The resul ts partially support the HEM as applied to a nutrition domain and reve aled interesting gender differences. For wives the cost of healthy die t changes had an effect on pCF. For husbands, perceived threat and sel f-efficacy had an effect on PCF The differences are discussed on the b asis of gender roles in the home and gender socialization.