title: Assessing Intentions to Eat a Healthful Diet Among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Collegiate Athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many athletes fail to obtain the optimal levels of energy and nutrients to support health and performance. The constructs underlying the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) may help identify barriers to healthful eating that can be addressed in nutrition-education programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To use the TPB to examine factors regarding collegiate male and female student-athletes' intentions of eating a healthful diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online survey tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was taken by 244 male and female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II athletes, and data from 201 were analyzed. Mean age of the athletes was 20 ± 1.31 years (range, 18-24 years); most were white (86.1%) and female (78.6%).
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed predictive strength of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on behavioral intentions. Regression analysis evaluated how the variables of TPB were valued and how they predict behavioral intentions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combination of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls accounted for 73.4% (R 2) of the variance in behavioral intention (F = 180.82, P < .001). Attitude had the greatest influence on behavioral intentions (β = .534, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding both the intentions of collegiate athletes to eat healthfully and how highly they value nutrition is crucial for the development of effective nutrition education and counseling programs.
authors.affiliation: West Chester University, PA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Karpinski
authors.affiliation: West Chester University, PA.
authors.forename: Kellianne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milliner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Theory of Planned Behavior; nutrition; sex differences