The Role of Psychological Factors in Young Adult Snacking: Exploring the Intention-Behaviour Gap

Background/Objectives: Unhealthy snacking, most commonly consisting of sweets, savoury snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages, is associated with various adverse health outcomes. As long-term eating behaviours are commonly established in young adulthood, it is imperative to understand young adults' dietary decision-making to encourage healthy eating. This study aimed to identify the factors of unhealthy snacking among young adults across the three main snack types. Methods: Australian young adults (N = 323, M = 24.73, SD = 3.23) completed an online questionnaire assessing their physical activity engagement, intention, appetitive traits (satiety responsiveness and enjoyment of food), stress and consumption of sweet snacks, savoury snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages. Results: Multiple regression analyses indicated that physical activity engagement and stress were significant factors of sweet snack consumption. Physical activity engagement was the only significant factor of savoury snack consumption. Physical activity engagement and satiety responsiveness were significant factors of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Conclusions: Findings identified factors to bridge the intention-behaviour gap in unhealthy snacking. Results support the evidence that rational dietary decision-making can be interrupted by less conscious cognitive or physiological processes. Interventions should consider the differential importance of factors contributing to the consumption of different snack types to reduce unhealthy snacking.