Exploring the Longitudinal Stability of Food Neophilia and Dietary Quality and Their Prospective Relationship in Older Adults: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis

The study investigated the stability and prospective relationship of food neophilia (willingness to try new foods) and dietary quality in older adults. Dietary quality was measured using the NutriAct diet score, based on evidence for chronic disease prevention. Food neophilia was assessed with the Variety Seeking Tendency Scale. A cross-lagged panel model was used, controlling for demographic factors and COVID-19 policy stringency at T2. Results showed high longitudinal stability for both constructs. There was a small positive cross-sectional correlation between food neophilia and dietary quality. Critically, food neophilia at T1 did not significantly predict dietary quality at T2. Conversely, dietary quality at T1 showed a very small positive prospective effect on food neophilia at T2. The model explained 67.0% of variance in food neophilia and 44.5% in dietary quality. A key limitation is the reliance on self-reported measures. The findings suggest that while the two constructs are positively related cross-sectionally, food neophilia does not prospectively drive overall dietary quality in this older adult sample. The very small effect of dietary quality on food neophilia indicates a weak, but possible, reciprocal influence.