Mas. Van Duyn et al., Use of the transtheoretical model of change to successfully predict fruit and vegetable consumption, J NUTR EDUC, 30(6), 1998, pp. 371-380
This study examined the applicability of the transtheoretical model of chan
ge to assess readiness to increase fruit and vegetable intake in a national
ly representative sample of U.S. adults. Using data from the 1991 5 A Day b
aseline survey of 2811 respondents, this study developed an algorithm based
in part on responses to fruit and vegetable questions for classifying peop
le into alternative stages of change. Associations were examined between st
ages of change, fruit and vegetable intake, and demographic and psychosocia
l factors. Results indicated that individuals can be classified by stage of
change vis a vis fruit and vegetable intake. Persons in the higher stages
of maintenance reported intakes that met national dietary recommendations o
f five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily and those in action r
eported intakes that approached this level. Regression analyses showed that
stages of change were a significant predictor of fruit and vegetable consu
mption, explaining 17% of the variation in fruit and vegetable intake. Stag
es of change and knowing the number of fruit and vegetable servings one sho
uld eat for good health provided the most parsimonious model, explaining 25
% of the variance in total fruit and vegetable intake, compared with 29% fo
r the full model. These findings suggest that stages are a successful predi
ctor of fruit and vegetable consumption and implies a utility for the trans
theoretical theory in the design and evaluation of stage-based nutrition me
ssages for chronic disease prevention.