Can individual cognitions, self-regulation and environmental variables explain educational differences in vegetable consumption? a cross-sectional study among Dutch adults.

Auteur(s) :
Oenema A., Lechner L., Springvloet L.
Date :
Déc, 2014
Source(s) :
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. #11:1 p149
Adresse :

Sommaire de l'article

Background

Educational differences in health-related behaviors, where low- and moderate-educated individuals have poorer outcomes than high-educated individuals, are persistent. The reasons for these differences remain poorly understood. This study explored whether individual cognitions, self-regulation and environmental-level factors may explain educational differences in vegetable consumption.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,342 Dutch adults, of whom 54.5% were low/moderate-educated. Individuals completed an online questionnaire, assessing education, vegetable consumption, demographics, individual cognitions (attitude towards consuming 200 grams of vegetables a day, self-efficacy, subjective norm, intention, perception of vegetables as being expensive), self-regulation (general self-regulation, vegetable-specific action- and coping planning) and environmental-level factors (perception of availability of vegetables in the supermarket and availability of vegetables at home). The joint-significance test was used to determine significant mediation effects.

Results

Low/moderate-educated individuals consumed less vegetables (M=151.2) than high-educated individuals (M=168.1, ß=0.15, P<.001). Attitude and availability of vegetables at home were found to partially mediate the association between education and vegetable consumption (percentage mediated effect: 24.46%).

Discussion

Since attitude and availability of vegetables at home partially explain the difference in vegetable consumption between low/moderate- and high-educated individuals, these variables may be good target points for interventions to promote vegetable consumption among low/moderate-educated individuals.

Source : Pubmed
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