The PWM can be applied to predict and understand adolescents' eating behaviour. Social-reactive processes, namely willingness and prototype perception, are behavioural determinants that should be considered in theory and as novel targets in health promotion interventions.

Jungen ernähren sich nachweislich ungünstiger als Mädchen. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die Prototypen-Wahrnehmung als Erklärung für Geschlechterunterschiede im Ernährungsverhalten von Jugendlichen unter Berücksichtigung des Alters. Angenommen wird, dass die Wahrnehmung des typischen ungesunden und gesunden Essers die Geschlechterunterschiede im Ernährungsverhalten mediiert. Weiterhin wird im Sinne einer moderierten Mediation postuliert, dass das Alter den Zusammenhang zwischen Prototypen-Wahrnehmung und Ernährungsverhalten moderiert. Befragt wurden 340 SchülerInnen an Haupt- und Werkrealschulen im Alter von 10 – 17 Jahren zu Ernährungsverhalten und Wahrnehmung von Esser-Prototypen. Im Ergebnis hatten die Jungen ein signifikant ungünstigeres Ernährungsmuster als die Mädchen und sahen den ungesunden Esser positiver sowie den gesunden Esser negativer. Dieser Geschlechterunterschied im Ernährungsverhalten wurde partiell durch die Prototypen-Wahrnehmung mediiert. Dabei wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der Prototypen-Wahrnehmung des ungesunden Essers und des Ernährungsverhaltens durch das Alter moderiert: Bei älteren Jugendlichen hing die Wahrnehmung des ungesunden Essers stärker mit dem Ernährungsverhalten zusammen als bei jüngeren Jugendlichen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, wie wichtig es ist, vor allem bei älteren Jungen eine negative Wahrnehmung des ungesunden Essers zu fördern, mit dem Ziel das Ernährungsverhalten im Jugendalter zu verbessern.

BackgroundSelf-regulatory behaviour refers to both controlled and automatic processes. When people are distracted, automatic over controlled processes prevail. This was analysed with regard to nutritional behaviour (food choices, beverage intake) in situations of low or high distraction.MethodsA self-concept Implicit Association Test (IAT) was adapted to assess the implicit associations of self (vs. other) with healthy (vs. unhealthy) food. Explicit preferences for healthy and unhealthy food and the diet’s healthiness were measured by self-report. Both implicit and explicit measures were used as predictors of nutritional behaviour. Among 90 undergraduates, the choice of fruit versus snack in a food choice task (low distraction) and the amount of mineral water and soft drinks consumed in a taste comparison task to cover liquid intake (high distraction) were observed.ResultsIn the low distraction situation, food choice was predicted solely by explicit measures. Fruits were chosen less, when unhealthy foods were explicitly liked. In the high distraction situation, mineral water intake was predicted solely by the IAT. Participants implicitly associating themselves with healthy foods drank more mineral water than those implicitly associating themselves with unhealthy foods.ConclusionsNutritional behaviour is influenced by both automatic and controlled processes depending on the available capacity for self-regulation.

Abstract. Two studies examined the main assumption of the Prototype/Willingness Model for eating behavior. Accordingly, health-behavior in adolescents results from intentional and social-reactive processes, namely behavioral intentions and behavioral willingness. The hypothesis was that willingness explains eating behavior over and above intentions with respect to eating behavior in general and in the peer context. This was tested in a cross-sectional (N = 286) and a longitudinal (N = 335) study. Intentions and willingness were assessed for healthy and unhealthy eating, eating behavior using an eating pattern index, and observed food consumption in the peer context. Willingness explained variance in eating behavior over and above intentions. Intentional as well as social-reactive processes contribute to adolescents’ eating behavior. Implications for practice are discussed.

Purpose Unhealthy eating among adolescents from families with lower social status is a major concern. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and evaluation of a prototype-targeting intervention for the promotion of healthy eating in this target group. Design/methodology/approach The planning model intervention mapping (IM) was chosen to proceed systematically, to use theory and evidence herein and to make decisions transparent. A controlled study with three times of data assessment was conducted to evaluate process characteristics and effects (N=108). Findings “Provide opportunities for social comparison” (behavioural change technique 6.2) was chosen as change method and “perceived similarity” was identified as the condition for its effectiveness. An intervention unit was designed for application. The evaluation results show the feasibility of the unit; materials and activities successfully applied the change method and its condition for effectiveness; and intervention objectives were generally achieved. Practical implications A prototype-targeting intervention is provided that is based on theory and evidence, and is suitable for implementation. More generally, the paper can serve as a blueprint for the systematic planning of theory- and evidence-based interventions targeting specific personal determinants for behaviour change. Originality/value The paper makes an important contribution to the application of the prototype-related theory and a useful addition of IM to the growing field of intervention development and design.