Psychosocial factors and intervention-associated changes in those factors as correlates of change in fruit and vegetable consumption in the Maryland WIC 5 a day promotion program

This study sought to examine: (a) the relative effects of baseline demograp hic and psychosocial factors and an intensive nutritional intervention on c hanges in fruit and vegetable consumption in low-income, ethnically diverse women sewed by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infan ts, and Children (WIC) program in Maryland; (b) whether this intervention, designed to modify psychosocial factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption, was successful in changing these factors, and (c) whether cha nges in these factors were associated with increased consumption. the same women from 15 WIC program sites were surveyed at baseline and postintervent ion 8 months later Woman randomized to the intervention group showed signif icantly greater mean change in self-efficacy, attitudes, social support, an d knowledge of national consumption recommendations them control group wome n. Changes in all psychosocial factors were significantly associated with n utrition session attendance and increased consumption. In a hierarchical mo del, changes in these factors accounted for most of the intervention effect on increased consumption.