title: Examining change in social support and fruit and vegetable consumption in African American adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine (a) inter-individual variation in African Americans' fruit and vegetable social support, behavior, and consumption trajectories by estimating latent growth curves (LGCs) and (b) the associations between these trajectories over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger intervention study, data were collected from mid-life and older African Americans yearly for three years. The study incorporated a quasi-experimental design with random selection of participants, stratifying for age and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six churches in North Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and thirty one (73% women; median age range of 57-63) older African Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured questionnaire elicited personal data as well as information on dietary social support, eating-related behaviors, and fruit and vegetable dietary intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age was positively associated with initial social support but negatively associated with the rate of change in social support. More important, the rate of change in dietary social support predicted eating-related behavior trajectories, which influenced the rate of change in fruit and vegetable consumption over time after controlling for the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings illustrate the mediating role of eating-related behaviors and the inter-locking nature of social support, behavior and consumption trajectories. This research has implications for future research as well as community interventions and programs.
authors.affiliation: C.W. O'Neal, Human Development and Family Science; University of Georgia, 107 Family Science Center II; Athens, GA 30602, cwalker1@uga.edu; (706) 542-2972.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: O'Neal
authors.forename: K A S
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wickrama
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Ilich
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coccia
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Young-Clark
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lemacks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables