Social-Cognitive Correlates of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Minority and Non-Minority Youth

ObjectiveInadequate fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption signals a need for identifying predictors and correlates of intake, particularly in diverse adolescents.DesignParticipants completed an on-line assessment in early 2010.SettingComputer classrooms in 4 high schools.ParticipantsOne hundred twenty-two Caucasian and 125 minority (African American and Hispanic) high school students (mean age = 15.3 years, SD = 1.0) with parental consent. Response rate was 89%.Variables MeasuredSelf-efficacy as measured by confidence in goal setting and decision making about healthful eating; perceived benefits and barriers to eating FVs; healthful eating-related social support; body esteem; and FV intake.Analysist tests were used to examine group differences, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the predictors of 5-A-Day FV consumption.ResultsThirty-four percent of the non-minority group and 28% of the minority group reported eating 5 or more portions of FVs a day (P = .34). Self-efficacy and perceived benefits predicted consumption in minority participants, whereas barriers and social support were significant predictors in the non-minority group.Conclusions and ImplicationsThese findings suggest different variables predict consumption for minority and non-minority groups and that self-efficacy is an important variable to consider in dietary change programs for minority adolescents.