Fast Food Consumption Behaviors in High-School Students based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Abstract

Background: Studies report inappropriate snack and junk food consumption patterns in children and young adults in Iran. The current survey was aimed to explore fast food consumption behaviors in high-school students based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 500 high-school students. Samples were selected based on cluster sampling method at first and simple random at second. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. To analyze, SPSS-16 and tests, including t-test, Chi-square, correlation coefficient and multiple regressions were used. Results: The monthly frequency of fast food consumption was 4.01. The TPB explained fast food use behaviors with R-2 of 0.6, effectively. Results also represented that frequency of fast food consumption was meaningfully in line with behavioral intention (beta = 0.60, P < 0.05) and subjective norms (beta = 0.17, P < 0.05). Conclusion: It seems likely beneficial to consider important subjective norms (especially friends) that may strongly effect on high-school student intention to use fast food. Also students perceived behavioral control must be increased.