title: Proactive coping moderates the dietary intention-planning-behavior path.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study examines psychosocial mechanisms in dietary change using the health action process approach (HAPA) as its theoretical backdrop. Previous studies have supported the model in the domain of dietary behaviors but it has not yet been studied in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Dietary planning is assumed to mediate between intentions and dietary behaviors. However, among individuals scoring low on proactive coping, this mediation might fail. Therefore, an extension of the model by including proactive coping is examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychometric scales were administered at two points in time, three months apart, to 240 young Chinese men and women. Intentions, outcome expectancies, risk perception, action self-efficacy, and proactive coping were assessed at Time 1, whereas planning, coping self-efficacy, and dietary behavior were measured at Time 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Structural equation models replicated previous evidence on the validity of the HAPA. Intentions and planning mediated sequentially the effects of outcome expectancies and self-efficacy on dietary behaviors. Moreover, the inclusion of proactive coping yielded no main effects, but an interaction between intentions and proactive coping on dietary planning. The intention-planning-behavior chain was moderated by proactive coping which means that this connection operates only well when individuals are proactive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of proactive coping and the motivation to eat healthy foods facilitates dietary planning which, in turn, benefits corresponding behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Guangyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yiqun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarzer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002681:China; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; Diet; Nutrition; Planning; Proactive coping; Self-efficacy; Self-regulation