Stages of Change Algorithm for Calcium Intake by Male College Students

Using a sample of college-aged men, we evaluated the validity of a staging algorithm for dairy calcium intake that had been previously validated in a sample of college women. College-aged men enrolled at a private university in the United States were randomly selected to participate. The sample consisted of 180 male participants. Self-reported calcium intake was measured using a 26-item food frequency questionnaire. Stages of change classifications were based on a four-question algorithm for dairy calcium intake and a three-item self-efficacy questionnaire. Significant differences were found between dairy/calcium intake levels between precontemplation, contemplation/preparation, and action/maintenance groups. Results also showed that 46% of participants were in the action/maintenance stage. There was a significant difference in self-efficacy between members of the preaction and action stages. The study suggests that this stage of change algorithm for dairy calcium intake is valid for use in a male college student population.