title: Interaction effects in the theory of planned behaviour: Predicting fruit and vegetable consumption in three prospective cohorts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) has been criticized for not including interactions between major constructs thought to underlie behaviour. This study investigated the application of the TPB to the prediction of fruit and vegetable consumption across three prospective cohorts. The primary aim of the study was to investigate whether interactions between major constructs in the theory would increase the ability of the model to predict intention to consume fruit and vegetables (i.e., attitude × perceived behavioural control [PBC], subjective norm × PBC, subjective norm × attitude) and self-reported fruit and vegetable intake (i.e., PBC × intention).
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis from three cohorts: One predictive study (cohort 1) and two intervention studies (cohorts 2 and 3).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a TPB measure at baseline and a measure of fruit and vegetable intake at 1 week (cohort 1; n = 90) or 1 month (cohorts 2 and 3; n = 296).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Attitude moderated the impact of PBC on intention. PBC moderated the impact of intention on behaviour at 1 week but not 1 month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variance accounted for by the interactions was small. However, the presence of interactions between constructs within the TPB demonstrates a need to consider interactions between variables within the TPB in both theoretical and applied research using the model.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kothe
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mullan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011582:Psychological Theory; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: fruit and vegetables; theory of planned behaviour