Understanding adherence to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day: a theory of planned behavior perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in explaining the 5-A-Day intentions and behavior of college students. A secondary purpose was to determine whether any of the TPB relationships were moderated by gender or ethnicity.


METHODS
A prospective design that asked college students to complete a baseline TPB 5-A-Day questionnaire and a fruit and vegetable consumption measure 1 week later.


METHODS
Undergraduate fitness and health classes at 2 universities in the southern United States.


METHODS
511 college students with a mean age of 19.8 years (standard deviation = 2.71).


METHODS
TPB variables and fruit and vegetable consumption.


METHODS
Path analyses and invariance (ie, to examine ethnic and gender moderated) analyses.


RESULTS
Affective attitude (beta = .16, P < .05) and perceived behavioral control (beta = .59, P < .05) were significant predictors of intention, which in turn was a significant predictor of behavior (beta = .32, P < .05). Follow-up invariance analyses showed that none of the TPB relationships was moderated by gender or ethnicity.


CONCLUSIONS
The TPB may be a useful framework on which to base a 5-A-Day intervention for male and female college students of different ethnic backgrounds.
Blanchard
Chris M
CM
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Chris.Blanchard@dal.ca
Fisher
Janet
J
Sparling
Phillip B
PB
Shanks
Tiffany Hunt
TH
Nehl
Eric
E
Rhodes
Ryan E
RE
Courneya
Kerry S
KS
Baker
Frank
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult