PREDICTING INTENTIONS AND BEHAVIOR OF SWEDISH 10-16-YEAR-OLDS AT BREAKFAST

The study applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to study the d eterminants of Swedish children's intentions and actual breakfast choi ces, the focus being upon healthy vs. unhealthy choices. Children from three age groups (10, 13, and 16 years) participated by completing a questionnaire based on the TPB and a 4-day diary of breakfast choices (total N = 218). For all food groups investigated, intentions were wel l-predicted (50-84% variability explained) principally by attitudes an d in some cases subjective norms; perceived behavioural control was a significant predictor in only one out of six cases. Food choice as ass essed by self-report diary was not well-predicted (2-38% of variabilit y explained), being only moderately related to intentions and not at a ll to control. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.