From cognition to action: Exploring factors associated with dietary management behaviors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease via path model construction

This study examined the current status of dietary management behavior in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and explored factors associated with these behaviors using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, guided by the Temporal Self-regulation Theory. Validated scales were employed to assess dietary beliefs, consideration of future consequences, intention, habit, self-regulation capacity and dietary management behaviors in patients with IBD. The results indicated that intention was associated with dietary management behaviors and showed indirect associations between dietary beliefs and dietary management behaviors, as well as between consideration of future consequences and dietary management behaviors. The moderating effects of habit and self-regulation capacity on the association between intention and dietary management behaviors were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that dietary beliefs, consideration of future consequences, intention, habit, and self-regulation capacity are associated with dietary management behaviors among patients with IBD. These results provide implications for the development of supportive strategies for dietary self-management in patients with IBD.