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Perceived barriers mediate the association between self-efficacy and fruit and vegetable consumption among students attending alternative high schools.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bruening, M; Kubik, MY; Kenyon, D; Davey, C; Story, M
Published in: J Am Diet Assoc
October 2010

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.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Am Diet Assoc

DOI

EISSN

1878-3570

Publication Date

October 2010

Volume

110

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1542 / 1546

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vegetables
  • Students
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Self Efficacy
  • Schools
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Minority Groups
  • Minnesota
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Bruening, M., Kubik, M. Y., Kenyon, D., Davey, C., & Story, M. (2010). Perceived barriers mediate the association between self-efficacy and fruit and vegetable consumption among students attending alternative high schools. J Am Diet Assoc, 110(10), 1542–1546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2010.07.001
Bruening, Meg, Martha Y. Kubik, Denyelle Kenyon, Cynthia Davey, and Mary Story. “Perceived barriers mediate the association between self-efficacy and fruit and vegetable consumption among students attending alternative high schools.J Am Diet Assoc 110, no. 10 (October 2010): 1542–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2010.07.001.
Bruening, Meg, et al. “Perceived barriers mediate the association between self-efficacy and fruit and vegetable consumption among students attending alternative high schools.J Am Diet Assoc, vol. 110, no. 10, Oct. 2010, pp. 1542–46. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jada.2010.07.001.

Published In

J Am Diet Assoc

DOI

EISSN

1878-3570

Publication Date

October 2010

Volume

110

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1542 / 1546

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vegetables
  • Students
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Self Efficacy
  • Schools
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Minority Groups
  • Minnesota