title: Processes of change for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged African American adolescents.
abstract: This study sought to identify Transtheoretical Model processes of change associated with consumption of ≥5 daily servings of FVs in a sample of economically disadvantaged African American adolescents (N=549; mean (SD) age=12.44 (.99) years; 61% female; 15% African American Hispanic). Participants completed measures of stages and processes of change, and were ranked according to intake level based on their reported stage. Spearman correlations and independent samples t tests were used in cross-sectional analyses of the relationship between processes of change and FV consumption. Consciousness raising, environmental reevaluation, helping relationships and stimulus control processes were significantly associated with FV consumption (ρ≥.12; p<.01), and were practiced more often by youths who consumed ≥5 daily servings of FVs relative to those who did not (p<.05). Findings highlight the potential of these processes for increasing FV consumption in this population.
authors.affiliation: William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470, USA. dinoiaj@wpunj.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Di Noia
authors.forename: Debbe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011203:Poverty; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014675:Vegetables; D035862:Vulnerable Populations