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

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Anke Oenema¹  Lilian Lechner²  Linda Springvloet¹ 

[1] Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands;Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, 6401 DL, The Netherlands

关键词: Physical environmental factors;    Self-regulation;    Individual cognitions;    Socio-economic status;    Vegetable consumption;   

Others  :  1136043
DOI  :  10.1186/s12966-014-0149-1

 received in 2014-04-15, accepted in 2014-11-24,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

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, β = −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.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Springvloet et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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