Predictors of Intention to Eat 2.5 Cups of Vegetables among Ninth-grade Students Attending Public High Schools in Eastern North Carolina
Abstract
Objective
To identify beliefs about eating 2.5 cups of vegetables and to assess how well these beliefs predict intention to eat them.
Design
A survey based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.
Setting
Two public high schools in 2 counties in eastern North Carolina.
Participants
157 ninth-grade students (mean age = 14.71 years [SD = 0.82]).
Analysis
Regression analysis was performed to assess how well the variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior predicted behavioral intention to eat 2.5 cups of vegetables.
Findings
Attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted 77.2% of variance of intention to eat 2.5 cups of vegetables (F [3, 154] = 178.05, P < .001). Attitude was the strongest predictor (β = 0.434, P < .001), followed by subjective norms (β = 0.372, P < .001) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.159, P < .021).
Conclusions and Implications
Factors such as impact of parents and peers, availability of vegetables at home and in school, and making sure that vegetables offered to teens are tasty are important in increasing their intention to eat the recommended amount of vegetables. These factors could help education campaigns targeted toward teens be more successful.
East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
Address for Correspondence: Roman Pawlak, PhD, RD, Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Rivers West 337, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353; Phone: (252) 328-2350
Research described in this manuscript was paid for by a grant from the Lincoln foodservice grant and the Child Nutrition Foundation of the School Nutrition Association.
ABSTRACT