 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Jiunn-Jye Sheu, MSPH, PhD, CHES, Department of Health Science Education, University of Florida, FLG 5, PO Box 118210, Gainesville, FL 32611-8210, 352-3920583, jjsheu@hhp.ufl.edu, Elizabeth W. Edmundson-Drane, Department of Kinesiology & Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, BEL 222, Dept. of Kinesiology & Health Education, The Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, Huey-Shys Chen, PhD, RN, CHES, 911 NW 106th Street, Gainesville, FL 32606, Kuang-Yi Tang, MEd, Department of Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, 162, Ho-Ping E. Road, Da-An District, Taipei City, 10610, Taiwan, and Chun-Tai Huang, MEd, Jiang-Jiun Junior High School, Jiang-Jiun Junior High School, Tai-Nan County, Taiwan.
The psychosocial predictors of Children's behaviors in choosing high-fat foods and low-nutrient density sugar are the focus of this study. The Theory of Reasoned Action and Social Cognitive Theory served as the basic conceptual framework. This exploratory study is a non-experimental, prospective study designed to examine the paths of a proposed causal model ascertaining the direct and indirect effects of selected research variables on the specific dietary behaviors. The sample was comprised of healthy Taiwanese sixth graders (N=354). The self-report questionnaire included measures of nutritional knowledge, dietary attitude, self-efficacy, normative belief, motivation to comply, and intention to eat less fatty and foods with low-nutrient density sugar. Internal consistency estimates ranged from .67 to .87 for the scales. A preliminary correlation matrix was computed to examine the bivariate relationships among the variables. Intention was significantly correlated with all other variables. To test the proposed model, a path analysis was used to estimate the hypothesized causal model for the variables. The model was tested through the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) in LISREL 8. The path coefficient and goodness of fit indices demonstrated a best-fit model (c2=8.78, p=.92, GFI, AGFI, NFI=.99, NNFI, CFI=1.00, R2=.32). Most of the proposed paths were significant (p<.05) with only one exception, the direct path from subjective norm to intention which was not consistent of the Theory of Reasoned Action. However, an indirect effect through dietary attitudes was identified. Cultural differences could explain part of the inconsistency with the theory.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: School Health, Self-Efficacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.