title: Social-cognitive predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in children.
abstract: Social-cognitive theory (SCT) was used to explain the fruit and vegetable intake of 1,398 3rd graders. SCT variables assessed included self-efficacy, outcome expectations, preferences, social norms, asking skills, and knowledge. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed with 7-day records. Bivariate correlations with fruit and vegetable intake ranged from .17 for asking skills to .29 for fruit and vegetable preferences. In analyses controlling for school-level clustering, only preferences and positive outcome expectations remained significantly associated with fruit and vegetable intake, accounting for approximately 10%-11% of the variance. Limitations in the conceptualization, scope, and measurement of the variables assessed may have contributed to the weak associations observed. Models incorporating factors other than individual-level social-cognitive variables may be required to more fully explain children's dietary behavior.
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Resnicow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis-Hearn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003071:Cognition; D002149:Energy Intake; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D014675:Vegetables