Theory of Planned Behavior and implementation intentions to improve fruit and vegetable intake in women of low socioeconomic status
Files
Accepted manuscript
Date
2016-03-31
DOI
Authors
DeBiasse, Michele A.
Bowen, Deborah J.
Pagoto, Sherry L.
Quintiliani, Lisa M.
Version
OA Version
Citation
MA DeBiasse, DJ Bowen, SL Pagoto, LM Quintiliani. 2016. "Theory of Planned Behavior and implementation intentions to improve fruit and vegetable intake in women of low socioeconomic status." Society of Behavioral Medicine 35th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions. Washington, DC, 2016-03-31 - 2016-04-02
Abstract
Fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) is an important modifiable risk factor for chronic diseases. Low socioeconomic status (SES) populations demonstrate lower FVI and higher rates of chronic diseases than higher SES groups. Theory-based models and interventions like the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and implementation intentions (II) have been used effectively to explain and influence health behaviors, including FVI, in middle class populations, but have not been evaluated in exclusively low SES populations. This research investigates the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of the TPB and an II intervention to explain and influence FVI in women of low SES.Participants: Adult female residents of Boston Public Housing developments. TPB constructs and FVI were measuredvia survey. We conducted pilot and feasibility randomized controlled and one-group II intervention studies (n=31) to promote FVI and a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interview data (n=8) to evaluate intervention efficacy, feasibility and acceptability.Intervention and control groups did not increase FVI (intervention + 0.26 servings per day, t(17)=0.73,p=0.476; control +0.50 servings per day, t(9)=1.07,p=0.3111) and no difference in FVI between groups t(26)=0.40,p=0.6934). Feasibility goals were met for randomization (100%vs ≥80%), retention(93.5%vs ≥70%), missing data (2%vs <10%), days to follow up (mean=69.27±42.67 vs <180 days), and not for recruitment(38.1% vs≥70%). Interviewed participants characterized the intervention as “beneficial”, and reported autonomy, positive regard and having support facilitated dietary behavior change. Overall, our analysis of an II intervention suggests that simply intervening on TPB variables may not be enough to change dietary behavior and, although acceptable, participants reported constructs not included in the TPB as facilitators of dietary behavior change. Future research is needed to determine how/if the TPB and II can be used as a theoretical foundation and intervention to describe and influence dietary behavior change in women of low SES.