Validity of a Competing Food Choice Construct Regarding Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Urban College Freshmen
published online 23 July 2010. Corrected Proof
Abstract
Objective
This paper presents the reliability and validity of a “competing food choice” construct designed to assess whether factors related to consumption of less-healthful food were perceived to be barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption in college freshmen.
Design
Cross-sectional, self-administered survey.
Setting
An urban public college with a large, diverse student population.
Participants
A convenience sample of 408 college freshmen.
Variables Measured
A “competing food choice” construct and fruit and vegetable intake.
Analyses
Factor analysis, Cronbach α, and correlation coefficients were used to determine the reliability and validity of the construct.
Results
Three factors were produced from the factor analysis of the 11-item competing food choice construct: “competitive food” barriers (Cronbach α = 0.73), fruit and vegetable–related “time” barriers (Cronbach α = 0.67), and “quality” barriers (Cronbach α = 0.64). Construct validity assessments revealed significant inverse correlations between fruit and vegetable consumption and competitive food barriers (r = -0.15, P < .01 current and r = -0.25, P < .01 prior) and time barriers (r = -0.12, P < .05 current and r = -0.10, P < .05 prior).
Conclusions and Implications
This “competing food choice” construct demonstrated satisfactory reliability and construct validity among college freshmen.
1Nutrition and Food Science Track, Urban Public Health Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
2Immigration and Health Initiative, School of Health Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
3Community Health Education Track, Urban Public Health Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
4Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
Address for correspondence: Ming-Chin Yeh, PhD, Nutrition and Food Science Track, Urban Public Health Program, Hunter College, CUNY, 425 East 25th St, New York, NY 10010; Phone: (212) 481-4134; Fax: (212) 481-5260
ABSTRACT