4.1. Preliminary Analysis
Prior to creating composites for all variables, reliability and unidimensionality was assessed for each scale. Reliability analysis using Cronbach’s α suggested adequate reliability, as α was greater than 0.88 for all scales. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal component analysis with Varimax rotation indicated that each variable comprised only one factor. The item scores from each scale were then averaged to produce a composite variable score for hypotheses testing. Finally, participants were split into two groups (low and high) based on the median scores for perceived importance of eating healthily. Those with scores below the median score (5.20) were coded as having low perceived importance of eating healthily (