Self Efficacy as a Mediator of the Relationship between Dietary Knowledge and Behavior

Translating the dietary knowledge among individuals into healthy behavior remains a challenging task. This study examines the causal relationship between dietary knowledge and behavior by including self-efficacy in the models. A series of regression models were developed based on Baron and Kenny (1986) to assess whether self-efficacy mediated the link between the predictor variables and dietary behavior. Regression analyses supported the hypothesized relationships that self-efficacy mediates effects of dietary knowledge and social influences on dietary behavior. Self-efficacy also accounted for variance in eating behavior not explained by knowledge or demographic variables.