title: Why do people high in self-control eat more healthily? Social cognitions as mediators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trait self-control and social cognitions both predict dietary behaviors, but whether self-control is associated with more beneficial diet-related cognitions, and the effect of self-control on diet mediated by them, has rarely been examined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that the effect of self-control on healthy diet is explained by more proximal diet-related social cognitive factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether, 854 military conscripts (age M = 20) completed questionnaires on trait self-control and social cognitive factors (self-efficacy, outcome expectations, risk perceptions, intentions and planning) upon entering the service and a food frequency questionnaire after 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trait self-control was associated with more positive cognitions regarding healthy diet. The mediation hypothesis received support for fruit and vegetable but only partially for fast food consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals high in trait self-control eat more healthily because they have higher self-efficacy, more positive taste expectations, stronger intentions and more plans, compared to those low in self-control.
authors.affiliation: Social Psychology Unit, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 54, 00014, Helsinki, Finland, nelli.hankonen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Nelli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hankonen
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinnunen
authors.forename: Pilvikki
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Absetz
authors.forename: Piia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jallinoja
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult