Intentions and trait self-control predict fruit and vegetable consumption during the transition to first-year...

To examine the independent and combined effects of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variables and trait self-control (TSC) in the prediction of fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) among first-year university students.

Seventy-six first-year undergraduate university students.

In their first week of class (September 2011), participants completed baseline measures of TSC, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions about their FVC. One week later, students completed a 7-day food recall, from which daily FVC was calculated.

Baseline attitudes and perceived behavioral control predicted intentions (adjR(2) = .58). Intentions and TSC predicted FVC (adjR(2) = .24).

The TPB may be a useful framework on which to base a FVC intervention for first-year undergraduate students; however, focusing solely on increasing positive intentions to consume FVC will not necessarily translate into FVC behavior, as other personal- and environmental-level variables may play a role.