The Relationship of Work-Family Conflict and Socio-Cognitive Variables to Healthy Eating in Malaysia

Understanding psychosocial determinants of healthy eating is believed to be crucial because they are influences that are potentially modifiable through health intervention. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of work-family conflict and socio-cognitive variables on healthy eating (i.e., low fat consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption) among Malaysian employees. Participants (N = 325) completed questionnaires based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) constructs and the work-family conflict scale. Results based on multiple regressions highlighted the efficacy of TPB in explaining 42% and 44% of the variances for eating low fat and eating fruit and vegetables, respectively. In addition to intention, descriptive norm and anticipated regret were found to be statistically significant predictors of both the healthful eating behaviours. Self-efficacy was a significant predictor of low fat consumption, while affective attitude was a significant determinant of fruit and vegetable intake. Family interference with work (FIW) was found to moderate the effect of intention on low fat consumption, suggesting that intention was predictive of low fat consumption only among people who experienced less FIW and not among those with greater conflict. Intervention could usefully target the socio-cognitive variables and work-family challenges in promoting healthful eating in Malaysia.