OBJECTIVE: To assess the measurement properties of several scales modified or created to assess factors related to fruit and vegetable intake within a young adolescent population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional with data collected via self-report. SETTING: Data were collected in regularly scheduled classes in the school setting. PARTICIPANTS: African American and Caucasian middle school students (ages 11-15 years). VARIABLES MEASURED: Self-efficacy, modeling, outcome expectations, normative beliefs, parental food management practices, and influences on food choice. ANALYSIS: Pearson correlations, factor analysis, and Cronbach α. RESULTS: Subscales with adequate to good internal consistencies (0.65-0.88) were established. Fruit and vegetable intake was significantly correlated with self-efficacy, parent and peer modeling, family and peer normative beliefs, and social and health outcome expectations. Fruit and vegetable intake was not significantly correlated with permissive eating, food self-preparation, or the 3 subscales measuring influences on food choice (social influence, avoiding weight-gain food, and appeal and access). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These measures, most originally developed for children and adults and modified for this study, demonstrated adequate measurement properties for an adolescent sample.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the measurement properties of several scales modified or created to assess factors related to fruit and vegetable intake within a young adolescent population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional with data collected via self-report. SETTING: Data were collected in regularly scheduled classes in the school setting. PARTICIPANTS: African American and Caucasian middle school students (ages 11-15 years). VARIABLES MEASURED: Self-efficacy, modeling, outcome expectations, normative beliefs, parental food management practices, and influences on food choice. ANALYSIS: Pearson correlations, factor analysis, and Cronbach α. RESULTS: Subscales with adequate to good internal consistencies (0.65-0.88) were established. Fruit and vegetable intake was significantly correlated with self-efficacy, parent and peer modeling, family and peer normative beliefs, and social and health outcome expectations. Fruit and vegetable intake was not significantly correlated with permissive eating, food self-preparation, or the 3 subscales measuring influences on food choice (social influence, avoiding weight-gain food, and appeal and access). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These measures, most originally developed for children and adults and modified for this study, demonstrated adequate measurement properties for an adolescent sample.