title: Conscientiousness and (un)healthy eating: the role of impulsive eating and age in the consumption of daily main meals.
abstract: The present study aims to explore the relationship between conscientiousness and the consumption of healthy versus unhealthy main meals. Impulsive eating was tested as a mediator in this relationship, as well as direct effects of age on those constructs. A nationwide representative sample of 1,006 Norwegian adults (18-70 years) within a prospective design was used to test a theoretical model. The structural equation model (SEM), in combination with bootstrapping procedures in AMOS, was the principal analytical method. Conscientiousness was negatively associated with unhealthy and impulsive eating. Impulsive eating was a partial mediator between conscientiousness and unhealthy eating and a full mediator between conscientiousness and healthy eating. Age was positively correlated with conscientiousness and this relationship had an inverted U-shape form. Finally, age was negatively associated with unhealthy and impulsive eating, and positively associated with healthy eating. This study confirmed the relevance of conscientiousness for healthy, unhealthy, and impulsive eating.
authors.affiliation: University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Svein Ottar
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Nha Trang University, Nha Trang, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Ho Huy
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tuu
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Honkanen
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verplanken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Conscientiousness; SEM; age; healthy and unhealthy eating behavior; impulsive eating; structural equation model