Motivation, self-efficacy, physical activity and nutrition in college students: randomized controlled trial of an internet-based education program.
OBJECTIVE
MyStudentBody.com-Nutrition (MSB-N) is an internet-based nutrition and physical activity education program for college students.


METHODS
Students from six universities (N=476) in the U.S. were randomly assigned in the fall of 2005 to one of three groups: MSB-N (Experimental I), MSB-N plus Booster (Experimental II), or an attention placebo control group.


RESULTS
Experimental I and II group participants increased their fruit and vegetable intake by .33 and .24 servings, respectively, relative to the control group at post-test. Both experimental groups improved their motivation to change eating behaviors (p<.05) and were also more likely to increase their social support and self-efficacy for dietary change (p's<.05). Experimental groups also improved their attitude toward exercise (p<.05), but no behavioral changes in physical activity were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
MyStudentBody.com-Nutrition is an effective internet-based program that may have wide applicability on college campuses for nutrition education and promoting change in health behaviors.
Franko
Debra L
DL
Northeastern University, Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology, 203 Lake Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA. d.franko@neu.edu
Cousineau
Tara M
TM
Trant
Meredith
M
Green
Traci Craig
TC
Rancourt
Diana
D
Thompson
Douglas
D
Ainscough
Jessica
J
Mintz
Laurie B
LB
Ciccazzo
Michele
M
D000367:Age Factors; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009752:Nutritional Status; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult