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Can social cognitive theory explain breakfast frequency in workplace institutional feeding populations?

Jessica A. Harris (Department of Social Marketing, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Julia Carins (Department of Social Marketing, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Sharyn Rundle-Thiele (Department of Social Marketing, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Patricia David (Department of Social Marketing, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)

Journal of Social Marketing

ISSN: 2042-6763

Article publication date: 4 March 2022

Issue publication date: 12 October 2022

295

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to respond to calls to increase levels of theory application and extend understanding beyond individuals ensuring social and structural environmental considerations are taken into account. Social cognitive theory (SCT) was applied across two settings to examine its potential to explain breakfast eating frequency.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two institutional feeding populations [military (n = 314) and mining (n = 235)]. Participants reported key SCT constructs including breakfast eating behaviour (self-efficacy, skills, practice), cognitive aspects (knowledge, attitude, expectations) and their perceptions regarding environmental constructs (access, social norms, influence). These were measured and analysed through SPSS and structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

Results indicated that 71% males and 90% females in the military do not eat breakfast at work, and in the mining, 23% males and 24% of females do not eat breakfast at work. Furthermore, SEM modelling found only a satisfactory fit for SCT as operationalised in this study. Within the models, behavioural aspects of self-efficacy, skills and practice were significant influences on breakfast eating. Cognitive influences and perceptions of environmental influences exerted little to no effect on breakfast eating. Study results indicate that SCT, as measured in this study using a selection of environment, cognitive and behavioural constructs, does not offer sufficient explanatory potential to explain breakfast eating behaviour.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to deliver a complete application of Social Cognitive Theory, ensuring multiple constructs are measured to examine the explanatory behaviour of breakfast eating frequency in workplace institutional settings.

Keywords

Citation

Harris, J.A., Carins, J., Rundle-Thiele, S. and David, P. (2022), "Can social cognitive theory explain breakfast frequency in workplace institutional feeding populations?", Journal of Social Marketing, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 373-394. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-09-2021-0214

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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