ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health and Nutrition
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1593625
This article is part of the Research TopicAssessing and Addressing Public Health and Community Nutrition Challenges in the Arab RegionView all 10 articles
Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Saudi Adults: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Approach
Provisionally accepted
- 1King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- 2Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and rehabilitation sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Aim: This study examines the determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption among Saudi adults using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model. The model incorporates core TPB constructs-attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC)-along with sociodemographic, behavioral, and knowledge-related factors. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of adult Saudis (n=471). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, comparing a basic TPB model with an extended model that included additional predictors such as knowledge about World Health Organization (WHO) dietary recommendations, diet, family meals, and physical activity. Results: PBC has is a strong predictor of behavior compared to intention. For intention, attitude ((unstandardized coefficients (coeff) = 0.29, standard error (se) = 0.13, p = 0.025)), subjective norm coeff =0.37, se = 0.11, p = 0.001), and PBC (coeff =1.29, se= 0.17, p = 0.000) are all significant predictors. The extended model explained slightly more variance in behavior (R² = 0.45) and intention (R² = 0.78) compared to the basic model (behavior: R² = 0.40; intention: R² = 0.74), highlighting the added value of these factors. PBC emerged as the strongest predictor of behavior (coeff = 0.71, se = 0.26, p = 0.006), while knowledge (coeff = 0.29, se = 0.05, p < 0.001) and family meals (coeff = 0.19, se= 0.05, p < 0.001) significantly predicted attitudes. Moderate physical activity was associated with subjective norms (coeff = 0.08, se = 0.03, p = 0.009), suggesting a synergistic relationship between physical activity and dietary behavior.These findings underscore the importance of addressing both psychological and practical factors in interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among Saudi population, with a focus on enhancing self-efficacy, leveraging family dynamics, and integrating physical activity promotion.
Keywords: fruits and vegetables, consumption, Theory of Planned Behavior, Saudi Arbia, adults
Received: 14 Mar 2025; Accepted: 28 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Abduljawad, Aljadani, Aljehany and Abusalih. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Haya Aljadani, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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