Context matters: Self-regulation of healthy eating at different eating occasions.

Abstract

Self-regulation plays an important role in healthy eating behaviors. The current research explores temporary fluctuations in self-regulation next to variations between individuals. In an online observational study, 892 participants (Mage \u2009=\u200944.3, SDage \u2009=\u200912.7) monitored their self-regulation three times a week before a meal moment for 3\u2009weeks. To analyze the data, a random intercept and slopes model was used, including variables on within-individual level (i.e. meal moment, tiredness, distractedness, social, and physical environment) and variables on between-individual level (i.e. self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, and perception of social and physical opportunity). Self-regulation was found to be higher at breakfast compared with dinner (estimate\u2009=\u2009-0.08, p\u2009<\u2009.001), higher at home than out-of-home (estimate\u2009=\u2009-0.08, p\u2009<\u2009.001) and lower when individuals are more tired (estimate\u2009=\u20090.04, p\u2009<\u2009.001) and distracted (estimate\u2009=\u20090.07, p\u2009<\u2009.001). Moreover, self-regulation was higher for individuals with higher levels of intrinsic motivation (estimate\u2009=\u20090.19, p\u2009<\u2009.001) and self-efficacy (estimate\u2009=\u20090.41, p\u2009<\u2009.001). Insights from this research advance our knowledge regarding temporal influences on self-regulation and can provide input for behavior change tools such as personalized dietary advice.