Segmenting Young Adult University Student's Eating Behaviour: A Theory-Informed Approach

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Kitunen, Anna
Rundle-Thiele, Sharyn
Carins, Julia
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2019
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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to extend behavioural theory and segmentation application. Specifically, this paper draws on three segmentation bases and behavioural theory that extends focus beyond individual psychological predispositions to form segments within the healthy eating context for young adult university students (20–35 years) in Queensland, Australia. Participants were invited to take part in an online survey via email and through face to face intercept to ensure a diverse cross section was obtained. Structural equation modelling revealed that the Motivation, Opportunity, and Ability (MOA) framework can be utilised to explain healthful eating behaviour and two-step cluster analysis uncovered two distinct segments with education, motivation to eat healthily and Turconi’s eating behaviour scores being the most important variables within the wider multivariate segment formation. This paper contributes to literature in the following ways. First, it confirms the importance of behavioural bases in segment formation and supports inclusion of other bases, namely demographics and psychographics. Next, it provides evidence of the value of including behavioural theory, which extends focus beyond what individuals think to understand how the environment may support them. Finally, this paper demonstrates that the MOA framework together with eating behaviour and demographic factors (education) can produce theoretically informed segments.

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Nutrients

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11

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11

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© 2019 The Authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Food sciences

Nutrition and dietetics

Social marketing

Clinical sciences

Public health

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Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Nutrition & Dietetics

social marketing

young adults

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Kitunen, A; Rundle-Thiele, S; Carins, J, Segmenting Young Adult University Student's Eating Behaviour: A Theory-Informed Approach, Nutrients, 2019, 11 (11)

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