Public Health Nutrition

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume 10, Issue 12  

Research Paper

Psychosocial and demographic predictors of fruit, juice and vegetable consumption among 11–14-year-old Boy Scouts

M Shayne Gallawaya1 c1, Russell Jagoa2, Tom Baranowskia3, Janice C Baranowskia3 and Pamela M Diamonda4

a1 Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas at Houston, 1200 Hermann Pressler Drive, Suite E-627, Houston, TX 77030, USA

a2 Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

a3 Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

a4 Houston Health Science Center, Center for Health Promotion, The University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

Abstract

Objective Psychosocial and demographic correlates of fruit, juice and vegetable (FJV) consumption were investigated to guide how to increase FJV intake.

Design Hierarchical multiple regression analysis of FJV consumption on demographics and psychosocial variables.

Setting Houston, Texas, USA.

Subjects Boys aged 11–14 years (n = 473).

Results FJV preference and availability were both significant predictors of FJV consumption, controlling for demographics and clustering of Boy Scout troops. Vegetable self-efficacy was associated with vegetable consumption. The interaction of preference by home availability was a significant predictor of FJV. The interaction of self-efficacy by home availability showed a trend towards significantly predicting vegetable consumption. No significant interactions were found between body mass index and the psychosocial variables.

Conclusions Findings suggest that future interventions emphasising an increase in preference, availability and efficacy may increase consumption of FJV in similar populations.

(Received October 27 2006)

(Accepted June 14 2007)

Keywords

Correspondence:

c1 Corresponding author: Email Michael.S.Gallaway@uth.tmc.edu