1) The study investigated whether positively or negatively framed messages about breakfast consumption could increase breakfast eating and related attitudes over 4 weeks. 2) Both positive and negative framing led to more positive attitudes towards breakfast compared to a control group. However, neither framing approach increased subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, or actual breakfast consumption. 3) While the interventions successfully changed attitudes, these changes did not translate into increased breakfast eating behavior. Further research is needed to determine how to best promote breakfast consumption.

1. IMPROVING NUTRITION USING A
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION FOR
BREAKFAST CONSUMPTION?
Rajith Amaratunga, Barbara Mullan, and Emily Kothe
School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Australia
Introduction
Both interventions led to significant increases
in positive attitudes towards breakfast when
Breakfast is associated with a number of
compared to the control group.
physical and psychosocial health outcomes,
including a decrease in risk of cardiovascular 0.9
disease (Rampersaud, Pereira, Girard, 0.8
Adams, & Metzl, 2005). However, only 61% 0.7
of Australian young people regularly 0.6
consume a morning meal (Australian Bureau 0.5
of Statistics, 1997). 0.4
0.3
0.2
Research into other health behaviours has 0.1
suggested that interventions which frame 0
Figure 1. Sample of positive framing message
heath messages in terms of health benefits Positive Negative Control Group
Framing Framing
are more successful than factually equivalent
interventions which emphasise health risks Figure 5. Change in attitude towards breakfast consumption
(Kahneman & Tversky, 1984). Framing
effects have not previously been investigated
in the context of breakfast consumption. Individuals in the control group experienced a
decline PBC over the course of the
intervention. This was not observed in either
intervention group.
Aim 0.2
Positive Negative
Control
Framing Framing
The present study investigated the use of
positively and negatively framed breakfast -0.0
messages in increasing breakfast
Figure 2. Sample of negative framing message
consumption, and social cognitions related to
breakfast, over a four week follow-up. -0.2
The aim of the study was to examine the Results -0.4
effects of two brief, web-based, psychosocial
interventions. Factually equivalent messages
were designed for the two framing conditions As expected levels of TPB variables at
based on principles from the Theory of baseline were found to predict breakfast -0.6
Figure 6. Change in PBC
Planned Behaviour (Azjen, 1991) and utilising consumption at follow-up.
Implementation Intentions (Gollwitzer &
Brandstatter, 1997). The influence of the No significant changes in behaviour or
intervention on attitude, subjective norm, Attitudes
-0.024
subjective norm were observed for either
perceived behaviour control, intention and R2 = .368** R2 = .520** experimental group.
Subjective Norm .197 Intention .704** Behaviour
behaviour was investigated.
.535**
.187
PBC
Conclusion
Figure 3: Model 1 with standardized regression coefficients (β)
(Note * p <.05; ** p<.001)
Method Based on the present findings it is difficult to
Contrary to expectations, no differences in how best to frame health messages when
Participants (N=109) were randomly
behaviour or any psychosocial variables were attempting to promote positive beliefs about
assigned to one of three groups.
found between the positive and negative breakfast.
framing conditions at follow-up.
Positive framing: Messages emphasising While the current interventions led to more
the health benefits of breakfast consumption positive beliefs about breakfast consumption
and the implementation intention task. Subjective Norm
these changes were not effectively translated
Negative
to change in breakfast eating behaviour.
Negative framing: Messages emphasising Frame
Positive
Further research should be conducted to
the health risks of breakfast skipping and the Frame
determine how to best translate these
implementation intention task. PBC
changes in cognition to change in breakfast
consumption
Control: Distracter task
Attitude
In all groups, breakfast related attitudes,
social norms, and perceived behavioural Acknowledgements
control were measured at both occasions.
Breakfast eating behaviour was assessed at Behaviour This study would not have been possible without the
time and effort of those who participated in this
baseline and four week follow-up.
research. As always they have our deepest
0 2 4 6 8
gratitude. The authors would also like to thank Cara
Figure 4. Between group comparison of follow-up scores: Wong and Adrian Macarthur-King for their support.
TPB variables and behaviour