Application of the theory of planned behaviour to assess junk food consumption patterns among college students using online food delivery apps in India: A cross-sectional study.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Public Health Dentistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Pondicherry, India.
- 2Department of Public Health, Villupuram District, Govt.of Tamil Nadu, India.
- 3Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College, Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu, India.
- 4Department of Public Health Dentistry, SCB Dental College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India.
- 5Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vinayaka Mission Sankarachariyar Dental College, Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
Background
Junk food, characterized by high caloric value and low nutritional content, poses a growing public health concern, especially among adolescents and young adults. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) offers a structured framework for understanding health-related behaviors, including dietary choices. This study aimed to evaluate junk food consumption behavior among college students through the lens of TPB, specifically in the context of online food delivery app usage.Materials and methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 327 college students from various academic disciplines using a multistage random sampling method. A structured, pretested questionnaire comprising 28 items across six TPB domains was used. Data were compiled using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (v21.0). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Unpaired t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between TPB constructs and junk food consumption behavior.Results
Among the participants, 58.1% had a normal BMI. Female students demonstrated higher mean attitude (27.8 ± 3.93) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) scores (11.96 ± 3.60) compared with men (attitude: 27.4 ± 4.6; PBC: 11.4 ± 3.91). Conversely, men had a higher mean subjective norm score (5.57 ± 1.87) than women. A significant positive correlation was observed between subjective norms and frequency of ordering junk food (r = 0.165, P < 0.01).Conclusion
The findings suggest gender-specific differences in TPB constructs related to junk food consumption. While women showed greater attitude and control toward avoiding unhealthy foods, men were more influenced by social norms. Enhancing perceived behavioral control and addressing peer influences may be effective strategies to reduce junk food intake among college students.
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BibTeX
@article{kuppusamy2026application,
title = {{Application of the theory of planned behaviour to assess junk food consumption patterns among college students using online food delivery apps in India: A cross-sectional study.}},
author = {Kasthuripriya Kuppusamy and Vishnukumaran Asokan and Pavithra Ramasamy and Akhil Changanath and Shrienitha Dhanaraj Nirmala and Rubian H Kader},
journal = {Journal of education and health promotion},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.4103/jehp.jehp_1537_25},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924313},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Application of the theory of planned behaviour to assess junk food consumption patterns among college students using online food delivery apps in India: A cross-sectional study.
AU - Kasthuripriya Kuppusamy
AU - Vishnukumaran Asokan
AU - Pavithra Ramasamy
AU - Akhil Changanath
AU - Shrienitha Dhanaraj Nirmala
AU - Rubian H Kader
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Journal of education and health promotion
DO - 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1537_25
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924313
AB - Background Junk food, characterized by high caloric value and low nutritional content, poses a growing public health concern, especially among adolescents and young adults. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) offers a structured framework for understanding health-related behaviors, including dietary choices. This study aimed to evaluate junk food consumption behavior among college students through the lens of TPB, specifically in the context of online food delivery app usage.Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 327 college students from various academic disciplines using a multistage random sampling method. A structured, pretested questionnaire comprising 28 items across six TPB domains was used. Data were compiled using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (v21.0). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Unpaired t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between TPB constructs and junk food consumption behavior.Results Among the participants, 58.1% had a normal BMI. Female students demonstrated higher mean attitude (27.8 ± 3.93) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) scores (11.96 ± 3.60) compared with men (attitude: 27.4 ± 4.6; PBC: 11.4 ± 3.91). Conversely, men had a higher mean subjective norm score (5.57 ± 1.87) than women. A significant positive correlation was observed between subjective norms and frequency of ordering junk food (r = 0.165, P < 0.01).Conclusion The findings suggest gender-specific differences in TPB constructs related to junk food consumption. While women showed greater attitude and control toward avoiding unhealthy foods, men were more influenced by social norms. Enhancing perceived behavioral control and addressing peer influences may be effective strategies to reduce junk food intake among college students.
SN - 2277-9531
SN - 2319-6440
ER -