Abstract
In most Western countries, children and adolescents do not eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables (FVs). Theoretical frameworks on social psychology of eating, such as the Reason Action Approach, Social Cognitive Theory, and Theory of Normal Conduct have been applied to understand how psychosocial variables can explain FV intake. However, considering those predictors is still rare on the understanding of FV intake among adolescents (particularly in Brazil) despite its importance within eating behavior. Therefore, this study explored important psychosocial determinants of weekly frequency of FV intake among Brazilian adolescents in a model testing socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional design was performed with 429 students (58% female), mean age 14.45 (SD 1.86). Key variables of theoretical framework on social psychology of food were investigated by structural equation modeling. The model included self-efficacy, attitudes, and social norms (with its subcomponents descriptive and injunctive) as psychosocial predictors of weekly frequency of FV intake along with SES and BMI. An instrument developed for Brazilian Portuguese was used to collect psychosocial variables as well as to verify FV reported intake. The total model explained 45.5% of weekly frequency of FV intake, and self-efficacy was the only significant psychosocial determinant (λ = 0.51, p = 0.001). SES also showed an important effect on the model (λ = 0.21, p = 0.001), while for BMI no significance was observed. In conclusion, the model was adequate to understand psychosocial determinants of weekly frequency of FV intake for Brazilian adolescents, with self-efficacy and SES as the major determinants of this eating behavior.
Highlights
In most Western countries, children and adolescents eat far less fruit and vegetables (FV) than recommended [1]
In Brazil, we found only one study that evaluated psychosocial determinants of eating behavior according to social psychology theories, but with focus on fish intake and no exclusive evaluation among adolescents considering socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI) as moderators [44]
Convergent validity was observed for FV (AVE = 0.78; ω = 0.52), self-efficacy (AVE = 0.57; ω = 0.83), attitudes (AVE = 0.54; ω = 0.82), and injunctive norms (AVE = 0.45; ω = 0.64)
Summary
In most Western countries, children and adolescents eat far less fruit and vegetables (FV) than recommended [1]. 90% of Brazilians ingest FV below the Psychosocial Determinants of Health Eating recommendations established by the Ministry of Health (400g/day) [4], a common situation since adolescence and which has become a public health concern in the country [5]. Knowing the relevance of key psychosocial determinants for adolescents in different contexts, and identifying the magnitude and which of these determinants have the greatest effect on FV intake are required. This knowledge can support initiatives for more assertive clinical practices, interventions, and recommendations aiming improvement of this class of eating behavior. It is rare to find studies that evaluate sociodemographic variables [7, 8] and body mass index (BMI) [9] as moderators of psychosocial determinants of FV intake, even though consideration of these interactions is important [10, 11]
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