Psychosocial determinants of intentions and behaviour towards edible insects in the South-Western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract Insect consumption provides a solution to the issue of decreasing food security. Despite these benefits, their acceptance by some consumers as a source of human food remains the main obstacle to their consumption. The present study focuses on three locations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (provinces of Kinshasa, Grand Bandundu and Kongo Central) in a context of food shortage. We examined the socio-demographics, socio-cognitive (Theory of Planned Behaviour, TPB), determinants of intentions and insect consumption, and the additional contribution of emotional associations in a sample of 537 participants (mean age = 34.88, SD = 12.39, 47% females). There was a higher consumption in Kinshasa (M = 4.58; SD = 1.62) and in Grand Bandundu (M = 4.36; SD = 1.54), as compared with Kongo Central (M = 2.29; SD = 1.45). Greater insect consumption was associated with a lower education level, when living in Kinshasa or Kongo central, when attitudes, perceived control and intentions to consume were higher, and when participants experienced lower levels of fear and repulsion towards insects. The results provide insights to better understand the determinants of low consumption in Kongo Central. They also suggest that most TPB dimensions could be potential targets for future interventions that aim to increase insect consumption.