OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the role of socio-demographic (race/ethnicity, sex, grade, nativity, literacy, body mass index) and individual-level (normative beliefs, knowledge, perceived barriers, food preference, self-efficacy) factors on US adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. METHODS: We conducted hierarchical multiple regression analysis to determine the influence of factors on adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption in a nationally represen- tative sample of 795 adolescents from the National Cancer Institute's 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. RESULTS: Socio-demographic variables explained little variance (1.7%) whereas individual-level factors explained approximately 29% of the variance in adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. Statistically significant (p < .001) predictors of adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption were food preference (β = .253), self-efficacy (β = .184), perceived barriers (β = -.139), and normative beliefs (β = .134). After controlling for sex, food preference and normative beliefs were stronger predictors of male, and perceived barriers was a stronger predictor of female, adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the predictive strength and sex-specific differences of intrapersonal variables on male and female adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption informs health promotion efforts to increase intake to recommended amounts.
OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the role of socio-demographic (race/ethnicity, sex, grade, nativity, literacy, body mass index) and individual-level (normative beliefs, knowledge, perceived barriers, food preference, self-efficacy) factors on US adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. METHODS: We conducted hierarchical multiple regression analysis to determine the influence of factors on adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption in a nationally represen- tative sample of 795 adolescents from the National Cancer Institute's 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. RESULTS: Socio-demographic variables explained little variance (1.7%) whereas individual-level factors explained approximately 29% of the variance in adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. Statistically significant (p < .001) predictors of adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption were food preference (β = .253), self-efficacy (β = .184), perceived barriers (β = -.139), and normative beliefs (β = .134). After controlling for sex, food preference and normative beliefs were stronger predictors of male, and perceived barriers was a stronger predictor of female, adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the predictive strength and sex-specific differences of intrapersonal variables on male and female adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption informs health promotion efforts to increase intake to recommended amounts.
Authors: Amanda Grimes; Joseph S Lightner; Kimberly Pina; Evelyn S Donis de Miranda; Emily Meissen-Sebelius; Robin P Shook; Emily A Hurley Journal: JMIR Form Res Date: 2022-01-21