title: Understanding adherence to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day: a theory of planned behavior perspective.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Chris.Blanchard@dal.ca
authors.forename: Chris M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Phillip B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Sparling
authors.forename: Tiffany Hunt
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nehl
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Kerry S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Courneya
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: 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