title: Psychosocial mediation of fruit and vegetable consumption in the body and soul effectiveness trial.
abstract: In this study the authors examined psychosocial variables as mediators for fruit and vegetable (FV) intake in a clustered, randomized effectiveness trial conducted in African American churches. The study sample included 14 churches (8 intervention and 6 control) with 470 participants from the intervention churches and 285 participants from the control churches. The outcome of FV intake and the proposed mediators were measured at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. Structural equation modeling indicated that the intervention had direct effects on social support, self-efficacy, and autonomous motivation; these variables also had direct effects on FV intake. Applying the M. E. Sobel (1982) formula to test significant mediated effects, the authors confirmed that social support and self-efficacy were significant mediators but that autonomous motivation was not. Social support and self-efficacy partially mediated 20.9% of the total effect of the intervention on changes in FV intake. The results support the use of strategies to increase social support and self-efficacy in dietary intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Branch, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. bernard.fuemmeler@duke.edu
authors.forename: Bernard F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Fuemmeler
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mâsse
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Yaroch
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Resnicow
authors.forename: Marci Kramish
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011584:Psychology; D012067:Religion; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables