Predicting long-term healthy eating behaviour: understanding the role of cognitive and affective attitudes

• Published in: Psychology & health Vol. 36; no. 10; pp. 1165 - 1181
• Main Authors: Conner, Mark, Norman, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 03.10.2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: affective attitude; attitude stability; Attitudes; Cognitive attitude; Eating behavior; healthy eating; healthy eating; affective attitude; Cognitive attitude; attitude stability
• ISSN: 0887-0446; 1476-8321
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2020.1832675

There are few tests of the ability of cognitive and affective attitudes to predict long-term performance of health behaviours. We assessed relationships between cognitive and affective attitudes and healthy eating behaviour over periods of 4, 6 and 10 years. Design: A prospective survey measuring cognitive and affective attitudes at baseline (T1) and 6 years (T2), and self-report healthy eating behaviour at baseline (T1), 6 (T2) and 10 (T3) years later in a sample of UK adults recruited through General Practice (N = 285). Results: When considered simultaneously, affective attitude (T1 and T2) predicted healthy eating behaviour cross-sectionally (at T1 and T2) and prospectively (over 4 [T2-T3], 6 [T1-T2] and 10 [T1-T3] years) whereas cognitive attitude did not. Stability of affective attitude (T1-T2) moderated the affective attitude-behaviour relationship in some (T1-T2, T1-T3), but not all (T2-T3), prospective analyses. Change in affective attitude, but not cognitive attitude (T1-T2), predicted change in behaviour over 6 (T1-T2) and 10 (T1-T3) years. Conclusions: The findings indicate that affective attitudes can be significant predictors of healthy eating behaviour over prolonged time periods suggesting they may be useful targets for interventions designed to produce long-term change in eating behaviour.