Online Program

333669
Examining the intention to eat a healthy diet based on current dietary behaviors in rural college students; implications for university setting interventions


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Chandra Jennings, PhD, MSE, CHES, Student Life Office and Department of Health and Physical Education, Luther College, Decorah, IA
Alireza Geshnizjani, PhD, MPH, MS, Community Health Education and Recreation, University of Maine, Farmington, ME
Introduction: Young adults nutrition behaviors are not isolated from the norms and barriers seen in the US in general.  College students have newfound autonomy about food choices with increased barriers to healthy choices, especially in rural areas where socio-environmental factors influence behaviors.  The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of students’ current dietary behaviors on their intention to eat a healthy diet in the next year.

Methods: Data was analyzed from 563 undergraduate students (approximately 35% of the student body population) who took part in a comprehensive campus health needs assessment at a small rural New England college.  A multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate how well current dietary behaviors predicted intention to eat a healthy diet in the next year. Among the predictors were frequency of meals, dieting to lose weight, consumption of breakfast, food groups, energy drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, and overall health.

Results: The linear combination of current dietary behaviors was significantly related to intention to eat a healthy diet in the next year F(14, 548) = 19.02, p < .001. Approximately 33% of the variance (R = .57) of intention to eat a healthy diet in the next year can be accounted for by students’ current dietary behaviors. Nine of the 14 predictors were statistically significant (p< .05).

Discussion: Effective health promotion should consider how the environment promotes or inhibits wellness for students.  Colleges should design interventions to address current dietary behaviors through increasing knowledge and reducing environmental barriers to healthy eating.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify the behaviors predicting intentions to eat healthy Discuss how the interaction of behaviors influences healthy eating Describe implications for effective health promotion around healthy eating in rural college settings

Keyword(s): Nutrition, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been teaching health promotion and education in higher education for half a decade, have a PhD in health education, and maintain a CHES certification. I conduct epidemiological research on health behaviors and reduction of health disparities in emerging adults and other populations, and have been promoting community health through involvement with local, state, and federally organized and funded programs for a decade. My service involves running health education programming on campuses.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.