title: Factors of fruit and vegetable intake by race, gender, and age among young adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore demographic differences in individual, social, and environmental factors potentially related to fruit and vegetable intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report questionnaires administered to a convenience sample of middle school students during regular classes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Black and white adolescents, 11 to 15 years of age (N = 736).
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures included self-efficacy, family dinner frequency, normative beliefs, outcome expectations, modeling, availability, preferences, snack choice, and demographics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-square, general linear models, and Poisson and linear regressions as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Black participants reported greater social influences than did white participants, whereas white adolescents reported greater family environmental influences on fruit and vegetable intake. The oldest adolescents reported lower self-efficacy, peer modeling, family dinner frequency, and fruit and vegetable preferences compared with younger adolescents. White participants and females reported a higher preference for vegetables than did black participants and males. Regression models for self-efficacy and snack choice explained 41% and 34% of the variance, respectively. Preferences for vegetables and parental modeling were the strongest correlates of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy was the strongest correlate of snack choice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreases in several factors with age highlight the importance of intervention for this age group. Future research is needed for a better understanding of the formation and modification of self-efficacy and snack choice.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, USA. mgranner@sc.edu
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Granner
authors.forename: Roger G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: Kristine S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.forename: Alexandra E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Ken W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D044465:White People