Association of temporal self-regulation theory and its constructs with eating behavior: A systematic review and...

Temporal Self-Regulation theory (TST) aims to address the intention-behavior gap; however, its applicability to eating behavior remains insufficiently validated. The objective of this review was to assess whether the constructs of TST are associated with eating behavior. A comprehensive literature review was conducted in December 2024, utilizing the databases Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and EMBASE. A total of 21 articles, encompassing 7913 participants, were identified. Meta-analyses were performed to examine the associations between the theoretical constructs and eating behaviors. The findings indicated that intention (ES(z) = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.68, P < 0.001; pooled r = 0.46), behavioral prepotency (ES(z) = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.31, 1.05, P < 0.001; pooled r = 0.59), and self-regulation capacity (ES(z) = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.49, P < 0.001; pooled r = 0.35) are significantly associated with healthy eating behaviors. For unhealthy eating behaviors, significant associations were demonstrated only with intention (ES(z) = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.93, P = 0.04; pooled r = 0.44) and behavioral prepotency (ES(z) = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.53, P < 0.001; pooled r = 0.37). These findings suggest that TST is applicable to eating behaviors. In particular, future interventions should be grounded in scientific theory, with a focus on optimizing intention, behavioral prepotency, and self-regulation capacity, while also considering the cultural context and individual needs of the target population. These efforts are essential for achieving global dietary health goals and will contribute significantly to preventing the occurrence of diet-related noncommunicable diseases.