Effects of Environmental Worry on Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Environmental worry, a response to environmental pollution, is a well-established predictor of pro-environmental behaviors. However, its relationship with health-promoting behaviors, such as fruit and vegetable intake (FVI), is unclear. In three studies, we explored the associations between environmental worry, behavioral intention, and FVI.

Study 1, enrolling 358 company trainees who provided their data at Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2; a 2-month follow-up), examined the relationship between environmental worry and FVI. Study 2, enrolling 226 employees providing their data at T1 and T2 (a 2-month follow-up), examined the mediating effects of intention in the relationship between environmental worry and FVI using a cross-lagged design. In study 3, data from 217 participants were collected three times over a period of 4 months. We re-examined the mediating effect of intention and further explored the moderating effect of future focus.

Environmental worry predicted beneficial changes in FVI (studies 1, 2, and 3). Environmental worry predicted FVI through intention (studies 2 and 3). The mediating effect of intention on the relationship between environmental worry and FVI was moderated by future focus: individuals with high environmental worry formed stronger intention when they also reported a strong future focus (study 3).

Our findings provide novel evidence for the direct and indirect links between environmental worry and health-promoting behavior (i.e., FVI).