Cognitive Biases, Social Influences and Receptivity to Behavioral Interventions in Sustainable Food Choices: Evidence from the Romanian FRAME Pilot Study

This cross-sectional mixed-methods study examines psychological, economic, and social factors associated with sustainable food choices and receptivity to behavioral interventions among adults in Romania. Conducted within the Erasmus+ FRAME project, the study used an online survey of 244 participants recruited through convenience sampling in May 2026. The questionnaire assessed cognitive biases, perceived cost barriers, social influences, information gaps and trust, and receptivity to interventions involving default portion sizes, social-norm messages, and choice-preserving nudges. Quantitative analyses identified positive associations between cognitive biases and perceived cost barriers, social influences and intervention receptivity, and information gaps and trust-related perceptions and intervention receptivity. Overall receptivity was slightly above the neutral midpoint, with greater support for autonomy-preserving nudges and default portion sizes than for plate-finishing norm messages. Qualitative findings highlighted interconnected economic, behavioral, cultural, and informational barriers. The study contributes evidence on how these dimensions coexist in a Romanian sample and identifies differences in the perceived acceptability of behavioral interventions. The findings may inform context-sensitive intervention development and pilot testing, while highlighting the need for representative and experimental research before conclusions about behavioral effectiveness can be drawn.