Abstract
Background and Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of two subsequent intervention components (motivational and self-regulatory components), placed in different order, to promote fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Methods: After baseline assessment, university students (N = 205, aged 18–26 years) were allocated to two groups. One group received a motivational intervention (outcome expectancies, risk perception, and task self-efficacy) followed by a self-regulatory intervention (planning and dietary self-efficacy) after 17 days. The second group received the same intervention conditions in the opposite order. Follow-up assessments were done after another 17 days. Results: Both intervention sequences yielded gains in terms of FV intake and self-efficacy. However, this gain was only due to the self-regulatory component whereas the motivational component did not contribute to the changes. Moreover, changes in intention and self-efficacy mediated between intervention sequence and follow-up behavior, suggesting that improving these proximal predictors of FV intake was responsible for the behavioral gains. Conclusions: Findings highlight the superiority of a self-regulatory intervention over a motivational intervention when it comes to dietary changes in this sample of young adults. Moreover, changes in dietary self-efficacy may drive nutritional changes.
Highlights
Changes in intention and self-efficacy mediated between intervention sequence and follow-up behavior, suggesting that improving these proximal predictors of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake was responsible for the behavioral gains
Findings highlight the superiority of a self-regulatory intervention over a motivational intervention when it comes to dietary changes in this sample of young adults
Underscoring the benefits of consuming a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetables (FV), a World Health Organization (WHO) review on the effectiveness of interventions and programs promoting FV intake showed that consumption of FV reduces cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, obesity and prevents several micronutrient deficiencies, especially in less developed countries (Pomerleau, Lock, Knai, & McKee, 2005)
Summary
Underscoring the benefits of consuming a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetables (FV), a World Health Organization (WHO) review on the effectiveness of interventions and programs promoting FV intake showed that consumption of FV reduces cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, obesity and prevents several micronutrient deficiencies, especially in less developed countries (Pomerleau, Lock, Knai, & McKee, 2005). The health action process approach (HAPA; Schwarzer, 2008), a model of the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors, suggests two phases of change, namely (a) a motivational phase (where the most relevant variables are risk perception, outcome expectancies, and task self-efficacy) and (b) a self-regulatory phase Participants should first be made aware of the risks of poor nutrition as well as the benefits of consuming the recommended amount of FV and be encouraged to adopt better nutritional habits Afterwards when they have formed a behavioral intention they should be guided to increase their dietary selfefficacy level and generate dietary plans. Based on the assumption that motivational processes precede self-regulatory ones (Schwarzer, 2008), we hypothesize that the order by which intervention components are delivered is relevant for its effectiveness in the promotion of FV intake. On the basis of prior research (e.g., Luszczynska et al, 2007; Mosher et al, 2013), we hypothesize that changes in intention and self-efficacy for increasing FV intake would mediate the intervention’s effect on participants’ daily servings of FV
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