Self-efficacy for dietary behaviour concerning heart disease among Alexandria school pupils

ABSTRACT

A study of 1134 preparatory-school pupils was conducted to measure children's self-efficacy for selecting healthy food for the heart, to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and self-reported usual food consumption and to estimate test-retest reliability. Results revealed an acceptable estimate of internal consistency of dietary self-efficacy [Cronbach alpha = 0.76]. Over half the students exhibited a moderate level of self-efficacy and 42% a high level. Test-retest reliability of the scale was good [r = 0.65, Cronbach alpha = 0.79]. Usual food choice was the first best predictor of dietary self-efficacy [r = 0.44], followed by sex [boys had higher self-efficacy than girls] and then knowledge [r = 0.37].The three factors contributed to explain 25% of the variance