Psychosocial factors and physical activity as predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in college students

Objective: To analyze whether psychosocial factors and physical activity are predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in young adults attending college. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of students from a public university in the Brazilian Northeast (n=717). Fruit and vegetable intake was measured by a Food Frequency Questionnaire containing 21 items. The psychosocial factors for behavior change, measured by a questionnaire, were: behavior change strategy, self-efficacy, perceived barriers and facilitators in decision making, and social support. The level of physical activity was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was the intake prediction model using a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). Results: The median fruit and vegetable intake was 2.0 servings/day. In adjusted analysis, behavior change strategy (R²=0.31), self-efficacy (R²=0.03), friends' support (R²=0.02), and physical activity (R²=0.03) explained 39% of the fruit and vegetable intake variance in men. Behavior change strategy (R²=0.03), self-efficacy (R²=0.13), perceived barriers (R²=0.08), and physical activity (R²=0.02) explained 26% of the fruit and vegetable intake variance in women. Fruit and vegetable intake would increase by one serving for every extra 35 and 47 minutes of physical activity men and women, respectively, practice a day. Conclusion: The main predictors of fruit and vegetable intake are behavior change strategies, self-efficacy, and physical activity.

研究目的：探讨社会心理因素与身体活动是否可作为巴西东北部公立高校青年在校大学生果蔬摄入量的预测因子。研究方法：本横断面研究（cross-sectional study）纳入了巴西东北部一所公立大学的代表性学生样本（n=717）。果蔬摄入量采用包含21个条目的食物频率问卷（Food Frequency Questionnaire）进行评估。用于测量行为改变相关社会心理因素的问卷涵盖以下维度：行为改变策略、自我效能感、决策过程中感知到的障碍与促进因素，以及社会支持。身体活动水平采用国际身体活动问卷（International Physical Activity Questionnaire）进行测量。本研究以多元线性回归（Multiple linear regression）作为摄入量预测模型，显著性水平设定为5%（p<0.05）。研究结果：受试群体的果蔬摄入量中位数为2.0份/日。经校正后的分析显示，男性群体中，行为改变策略（R²=0.31）、自我效能感（R²=0.03）、朋友支持（R²=0.02）与身体活动（R²=0.03）共可解释男性果蔬摄入量39%的变异量；女性群体中，行为改变策略（R²=0.03）、自我效能感（R²=0.13）、感知障碍（R²=0.08）与身体活动（R²=0.02）共可解释女性果蔬摄入量26%的变异量。此外，男性与女性每日每额外进行35分钟、47分钟的身体活动，其果蔬摄入量将分别增加1份。研究结论：行为改变策略、自我效能感与身体活动是青年在校大学生果蔬摄入量的主要预测因子。