Using a Multitheory Model to Predict Initiation and Sustenance of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among College Students.

CONTEXT: Consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables offers numerous health benefits. However, many college students do not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables daily. OBJECTIVE: To predict change in fruit and vegetable consumption behavior among college students who were not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables using the multitheory model (MTM) of behavior change. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a 38-item face-, content-, and construct-valid survey was sent to college students at a large university in the southeastern United States. Students were included in the analysis if they were aged at least 18 years and ate less than 5 cups of fruits and vegetables per day. The survey was broken into sections based on the MTM constructs of initiation of behavior change (participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence, and changes in physical environment) and sustenance of behavior change (emotional transformation, practice for change, and changes in social environment). Stepwise multiple regression was conducted to predict behavior change regarding fruit and vegetable consumption. RESULTS: Of the 5000 potential respondents, 175 completed the survey and were included in the analysis. Behavioral confidence and changes in physical environment were statistically significant predictors of the intention to initiate fruit and vegetable consumption (F2,173=59.700; P<.001) and accounted for 40.2% of the variance. Emotional transformation, practice for change, and changes in social environment were statistically significant predictors for the intention to sustain fruit and vegetable consumption (F3,171=26.374; P<.001) and accounted for 30.4% of the variance. CONCLUSION: Survey results showed that the MTM is a useful framework for designing behavior change interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among college students.

Applying Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change to Predict Water Consumption Instead of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages.

BACKGROUND: A substantial proportion of college students to not drink enough water and consume sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Consumption of SSBs is associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dental carries, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Hence, the purpose of this study was to use the multi-theory model (MTM) in predicting initiation and sustenance of plain water consumption instead of sugar-sweetened beverages among college students. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a 37-item valid and reliable MTM-based survey was administered to college students in 2016 via Qualtrics at a large public university in the Southeastern United States. Overall, 410 students responded to the survey; of those, 174 were eligible for the study and completed it. RESULTS: Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that 61.8% of the variance in the initiation of drinking plain water instead of SSBs was explained by behavioral confidence (P<0.001) and changes in the physical environment (P<0.001). Further, 58.3% of the variance in the sustenance of drinking plain water instead of SSBs was explained by emotional transformation (P<0.001) and practice for change (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Multi-theory model of health behavior change is a robust theory for predicting plain water consumption instead of SSBs in college students. Interventions should be developed based on this theory for this target population.