Adolescent Turkish Migrants' Eating Behavior in Germany: A Comparison to Nonmigrants in the Home and Host Countries Based on the Prototype-Willingness Model

Objectives: The aim of the present research was to examine the regulation of eating behavior among adolescents with a Turkish migration background living in Germany in comparison with adolescent nonmigrants from the host (Germany) and home country (Turkey). The prototype-willingness model (PWM) was chosen and analyzed with respect to differences in mean levels and predictions of its social-cognitive factors. Method: Two studies were conducted. Study 1 was longitudinal with 131 adolescent Turkish migrants and 303 Germans, whereas Study 2 was cross-sectional with 102 adolescent Turkish migrants and 270 Turks. Sociodemographic information, PWM variables, and eating behavior were enquired via questionnaire. Group differences in means and prediction patterns were analyzed using multiple-group structural equation modeling. Analyses were conducted separately introducing PWM variables to eat either unhealthy (unhealthy model) or healthy foods (healthy model). Results: The studies show consistent differences in means and predictions between Turkish migrants and Germans as well as Turks. The regulation of Turkish migrants' eating behavior was found to be intentional, whereas Germans and Turks showed both an impulsive and intentional regulation. Conclusions: Effective interventions on healthy eating for Turkish migrants need to be tailored according to their specific regulation of eating behavior.