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This dissertation examined the roles of 1) motivation for healthy dietary habits, and 2) the meanings of eating behavior on dietary intake in Latino youth. Multiple objectives were addressed in the three studies that comprised this dissertation. This dissertation showed that both motivation and the meanings of eating behavior uniquely contributed to variance in dietary intake in Latino youth and show some promise as tools for understanding the affective determinants of dietary intake in minority children. Although the direct influence of motivation and meanings may be small, the information gained from these and future studies may point to new directions for interventions aimed at improving dietary choices.

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Arianna D. McClain, PhD MPH: Studied Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research) at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Los Angeles, California.

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