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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393397
Research Project: Dietary and Physical Activity Guidance for Weight Loss and Maintenance

Location: Healthy Body Weight Research

Title: Effect of source on trust of pulse nutrition information and perceived likelihood of following dietary guidance

Author
item Nelson, Alese
item Roemmich, James

Submitted to: Psychology and Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2023
Publication Date: 7/31/2023
Citation: Nelson, A.M., Roemmich, J.N. 2023. Effect of source on trust of pulse nutrition information and perceived likelihood of following dietary guidance. Psychology and Health. 40(3):345-357. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2023.2239278.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2023.2239278

Interpretive Summary: Scientists at the USDA-ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center conducted an online survey to examine whether source of information impacts how people view nutrition information. We created four flyers to represent four different different sources: a control (no source), USDA, a fictitious hospital, and a fictitious social media account. Except for the source, the flyers were all the same, discussing the importance of including pulses (beans, peas, and lentils) in a healthy diet. Participants answered questions regarding their perceptions of the flyer’s accuracy, how trustworthy and reliable the source was, their interest in learning more, and their likelihood of following the dietary guidance. We found that USDA and hospital sources were perceived as more accurate, trustworthy, reliable, and more desirable to learn more from relative to control and social media. There were no differences in perceived likelihood of following the advice depending on source. Attitudes, perceived norms, perceived control, and past behavior were predictors of likelihood of following advice. Overall, these findings suggest that trust in the source of information does not influence perceived likelihood of following dietary recommendations for pulses.

Technical Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine how information source (control—no source, USDA, fictitious hospital, or fictitious social media) impacts perceptions of diet information. We hypothesized that non-government diet information sources (hospital, social media) would be perceived as more trustworthy and more likely to be followed. Participants (N = 537) completed an online survey in which they were presented a flyer containing dietary guidance and health information about consuming pulses. They then answered questions regarding their perceptions of the flyer’s accuracy, how trustworthy and reliable the source was, their interest in learning more, and their likelihood of following the dietary guidance. ANOVA results indicated that the USDA and hospital sources were perceived as more accurate, trustworthy, reliable, and more desirable to learn more from relative to control and social media. There were no differences in likelihood of following guidance depending on source. Multiple regression showed that measures of the Theory of Planned Behavior, including attitudes, perceived norms, perceived control, and past behavior were predictors of likelihood of following advice. Overall, these findings suggest that trust in the source of information does not influence perceived likelihood of following dietary recommendations for pulses.