The Role of Self-Identity in Predicting College Students' Intention to Consume Fruits and Vegetables.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors influencing intention to consume fruits and vegetables (F&V) among college students by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior with the inclusion of self-identity and past behavior. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2017. SETTING: Undergraduate classes at the University of Alabama. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 343 undergraduate students, mean age 20.3 years, participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Participants completed validated instruments measuring Theory of Planned Behavior variables, past behavior, and self-identity. ANALYSIS: Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Overall chi-square goodness of fit, comparative fit index, root mean square error of approximation, and Tucker-Lewis Index were used to assess model fit. RESULTS: Model fit indices showed that the hypothesized structural equation modeling model provided a good fit to the data (χ2 = 306.35; degrees of freedom = 104, root mean square error of approximation = 0.08; comparative fit index =0.95; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.94). Self-identity was the most significant predictor of intention to consume fruits and vegetables, followed by attitude, past behavior, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm among college students. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Nutrition education advocating the role of increased F&V consumption in positive self-identity, such as handouts incorporating images relatable to college students, may increase college students' intention to consume F&V.

Identifying Underlying Beliefs About Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Low-Income Older Adults: An Elicitation Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.

OBJECTIVE: Identify underlying salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among limited-income older adults. DESIGN: The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used as the framework for conducting semistructured individual interviews in 2016. SETTING: Two congregate meal sites in the city of Tuscaloosa, AL. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 25 low-income older adults aged ≥60 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about F&V intake. ANALYSIS: All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive content analysis approach. RESULTS: The elicitation interviews identified salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about F&V intake among low-income older adults. CONCLUSIONS: These results can be used to develop nutrition education programs aimed at improving economically vulnerable older adults' F&V intake.