Personal and situational predictors of everyday snacking: An application of temporal self-regulation theory

Objectives: This study aims at testing predictions derived from temporal self-regulationtheory (TST) in relation to discretionary food choices (snacks). TST combines amotivational sphere of influence (cognitions and temporal valuations resulting inintentions) with a momentary sphere (encompassing social and physical environmentalcues). This dual approach differs from current health behaviour theories, but canpotentially improve our understanding of the interplay of personal and environmentalfactors in health behaviour self-regulation.Design: A mixed event-based and time-based (Ecological Momentary Assessment)study in 61 adults aged between 18 and 64, with a BMI range between 18.34 and 39.78(M = 25.66, SD = 4.82) over two weeks.Methods: Participants recorded their food and drink intake for two weeks in real timeusing electronic diaries. Participants also responded to non-consumption assessments atrandom intervals throughout each day. Momentary cues (individual, situational, andenvironmental factors) were assessed both during food logs and non-consumptionassessments. Motivational factors, past behaviour, and trait self-regulation were assessedduring baseline.Results: Multilevel logistic regression analyses showed that across all snack types,environmental cues and negative affect were associated with an increased likelihood ofsnacking. Perceiving a cost of healthy eating to occur before eating was associated with anincreased likelihood of snacking, whereas intentions and self-regulation were not.Conclusions: Discretionary food intake is largely guided by momentary cues, andmotivational-level factors, such as intention and self-regulation, are less important in theinitiation of discretionary food intake