Cost‐benefit beliefs as predictors of behavior: a longitudinal study of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity (810.13)

Abstract

Positive health practices coexist across different behaviors, but it is unknown if predictors of change in one health behavior may also predict change in another behavior. This study investigates the relationship between pros/cons and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and physical activity (PA) across two consecutive 6‐month intervals in a multiethnic adult population in Hawaii (n=434; mean age=49.3 ±16.7; BMI=26.1 ±5.9). Questionnaires assessed PA and FV pros/cons on a 5‐pt scale, PA (MET‐min/wk, Godin Leisure‐Time Exercise Questionnaire), and FV intake (servings/day, National Cancer Institute FV screener). Sample had mean FV=3.28 ±1.62; PA=3883 ±3711 MET‐min/wk; FV pro=4.1 ±0.9; FV con=1.9 ±0.9; PA pro=4.1 ±0.9; PA con=1.7 ±0.8. Regressions revealed that baseline FV pros were predictive of FV intake at 6 and 12mo follow‐up (p<0.01; p<0.05). Baseline PA pros were predictive of PA at 6mo (p<0.01) but not at 12mo. FV and PA cons were not predictive. Cross behavior predictions revealed a significant effect of PA pros on FV intake and of FV pros on PA at both 6 and 12mo (p<0.05). Controlling for baseline FV pros, change in FV pros from baseline to 6mo predicted both FV and PA at 6mo but not at 12. Change in PA pros, controlling for baseline PA pros, showed no significant effect on PA or FV at either interval. Having higher FV pros and increasing FV pros may have a beneficial effect on FV and on PA, indicating that these motivations may have a gateway effect on other behaviors.