Factors among the household environment matter most: Exploring determinants of fruit and vegetable intake among a sample of low-income, ethnically diverse middle school students

Introduction: Adolescents, especially those who are low-income, are not eating recommended levels of fruits and vegetables (FV) and more research on determinants of FV intake (FVI) among this population group is needed. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine intra-personal, home environment, and demographic determinants of FVI among low-income, ethnically diverse adolescents, using the Social-Ecological framework.

Methods: Participants included 194 parents (87% female; 69% Latino; 59% low-income) and adolescents (76% female; ages 12-13). Intra-personal (i.e. knowledge, FV self-efficacy, FV preference, FV motivation, taste for homegrown FV, growing FV, and cooking FV); household (i.e. parent FVI, FV availability (AA), adult support, family dinner frequency, frequency parents prepare FV, and frequency family eats homegrown FV); and demographic factors (i.e. grade, sex, ethnicity, parent marital status, parent employment, parent education, and parent income) were measured. Reliable and validates scales were used. Multiple regression models were constructed to assess variables correlated with adolescent FVI (significance level p>.05).

Results: Consumption of 5+ FV daily was low (15.0% parents; 22.7% students). Two demographic, 2 intra-personal, and 6 household variables were included in the final regression model ( AR2 =.327, p<.001). Parent education (ß=.17), parent FVI (ß=.16) and household AA (ß=.24) were significant predictors in the model (p<.05). Factors in the household environment explained 80% of the variation in student FVI.

Conclusion: Among a sample of low-income adolescents, factors in their home environment far outweighed the contribution of demographic and intra-personal factors to FVI, underscoring the need for interventions targeting agents within the home environment.