Parental Control and Junk‐Food Consumption: A Mediating and Moderating Effect Analysis1

This cross‐sectional study examined the mediating effect of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the moderating role of perceived parental control within the context of adolescents' junk‐food consumption. Adolescents (N = 739) were selected using a cluster‐stratified randomized sampling method. Social cognitions, perceived parental control, and junk‐food consumption were assessed through self‐administered questionnaires. Results revealed both direct and indirect effect of perceived parental control within TPB. Additionally, impact of intention was not moderated by perceived parental control. TPB explained 28% and 12% of the variance in intention and junk‐food consumption, respectively. This study identified somewhat both the why and how of junk‐food consumption in Iranian female adolescents.