Observable and unobservable determinants of a healthy diet in Russia: A structural equation approach

The Russian Federation is facing crucial dietary problems which burden the health care sector to an increasing degree. In order to correct this trend explanations for the observed mostly unhealthy diets are needed. Therefore the main target of this study was to find evidence about the main determinants of a healthy diet in the Russian Federation based on household production theory. In order to do that a healthy eating index for the Russian population was calculated according to the Diet Quality Index-International and used to describe the nutrition quality of the Russian diet. In a next step an empirical model was developed. In this model sociodemographic/socioeconomic variables were extended by the psychological variables such as overall dissatisfaction, financial dissatisfaction, scepticism/fear, and knowledge. The empirical results do support the hypothesis of a psychological influence on the healthy eating index.