Factors of fruit and vegetable intake by race, gender, and age among young adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To explore demographic differences in individual, social, and environmental factors potentially related to fruit and vegetable intake.

DESIGN

Self-report questionnaires administered to a convenience sample of middle school students during regular classes.

PARTICIPANTS

Black and white adolescents, 11 to 15 years of age (N = 736).

VARIABLES MEASURED

Measures included self-efficacy, family dinner frequency, normative beliefs, outcome expectations, modeling, availability, preferences, snack choice, and demographics.

ANALYSIS

Chi-square, general linear models, and Poisson and linear regressions as appropriate.

RESULTS

Black participants reported greater social influences than did white participants, whereas white adolescents reported greater family environmental influences on fruit and vegetable intake. The oldest adolescents reported lower self-efficacy, peer modeling, family dinner frequency, and fruit and vegetable preferences compared with younger adolescents. White participants and females reported a higher preference for vegetables than did black participants and males. Regression models for self-efficacy and snack choice explained 41% and 34% of the variance, respectively. Preferences for vegetables and parental modeling were the strongest correlates of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy was the strongest correlate of snack choice.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Decreases in several factors with age highlight the importance of intervention for this age group. Future research is needed for a better understanding of the formation and modification of self-efficacy and snack choice.