Promoting a healthy aging: a study on the psychological determinants of the adherence to mediterranean diet in old age and its implications for interventions.

Adopting a modified model of Planned Behavior Theory, the study analyzed the role exerted by past adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the belief that the Mediterranean diet can contribute to health in old age, and proactive coping strategies on the intention to improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet in old age. 121 elderly people (Mean age = 68.60; SD = 7.1; 63 males and 51 females, 7 missed this demographic data) took part in the study, using the following instruments: Questionnaire on adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Panagiotakos, Pitsavos, & Stefanidis, 2007); Proactive Coping Inventory (Greenglass, 2002). A single item assessed the belief about the Mediterranean diet being a healthy nutrition model for healthy aging and a single item evaluated intention to improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Females prove to be more willing to adhere to the Mediterranean diet, and a higher level of schooling favors its adherence. A General Linear Model highlighted the positive contribution of three independent variables: proactive coping strategies, the belief that the Mediterranean diet helps the elderly to age in good health, and past adherence to this dietary pattern, together with gender, level of education and the interaction between gender and level of education.