Segmenting Young Adult University Student's Eating Behaviour: A Theory-Informed Approach
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Rundle-Thiele, Sharyn
Carins, Julia
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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
Science & Technology
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)