Perceived barriers mediate the association between self-efficacy and fruit and vegetable consumption among students attending alternative high schools.
Compared to students attending regular high schools, alternative high school students are more likely to be racial/ethnic minorities, have higher levels of poverty, and higher rates of risky and poor health behaviors, including weight-related behaviors like limited fruit and vegetable intake. However, little is known about fruit/vegetable intake among alternative high school students. This study examined whether perceived barriers to healthy eating mediated the association between self-efficacy to eat healthy foods and fruit/vegetable consumption among alternative high school students. The cross-sectional study population consisted of students (N=145) attending six alternative high schools in the St Paul-Minneapolis, MN, area who were participants in an obesity prevention pilot study and completed a baseline survey during fall 2006. Mixed model linear regression, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, was used to test a series of regression models performed according to mediation analysis procedures. Students' mean age was 17.3 years; 52% were male, 63% were low-income, and 61% were from racial/ethnic minorities. Students reported a mean fruit/vegetable intake of 3.6 servings per day, mean self-efficacy to eat healthy score of 22.2 (range 3 to 35), and mean barriers to eating healthy score of 6.9 (range 3 to 13). Perceived barriers to healthy eating fully mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and fruit/vegetable consumption (Sobel test statistic 2.7, P=0.007). Interventions targeting the dietary practices of alternative high school students should include components to decrease perceived barriers as a way to increase self-efficacy and ultimately fruit/vegetable intake.
Bruening
Meg
M
School of Nursing, Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. brue0123@umn.edu
Kubik
Martha Y
MY
Kenyon
Denyelle
D
Davey
Cynthia
C
Story
Mary
M
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D008913:Minority Groups; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012574:Schools; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014675:Vegetables / Q000600:supply & distribution