The Influence of Social Context on Changes in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: Results of the Healthy Directions Studies

As part of the Harvard Cancer Prevention Program Project, we used a social contextual model of health behavior change to test an intervention targeting multiple risk-related behaviors in working-class, multiethnic populations. We examined the relationships between the social contextual factors in ou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2007-07, Vol.97 (7), p.1216-1227
Main Authors: Sorensen, Glorian, Stoddard, Anne M, Dubowitz, Tamara, Barbeau, Elizabeth M, Bigby, JudyAnn, Emmons, Karen M, Berkman, Lisa F, Peterson, Karen E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Ambulatory care
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Diet
Disease prevention
Employees
Ethnic Groups
Ethnicity
Exercise
Female
Framing Health Matters
Fruit
Fruits
Grocery stores
Health behavior
Health Behavior - ethnology
Health care
Health facilities
Humans
Influence
Intervention
Linear Models
Male
Massachusetts - epidemiology
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Minority & ethnic groups
Miscellaneous
Mortality
Neoplasms - epidemiology
Neoplasms - ethnology
Neoplasms - prevention & control
Nutritional Status
Occupational hazards
Organizational change
Participation
Prevention programs
Public health
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Response rates
Risk Assessment
Small business
Social Class
Social norms
Socioeconomic factors
Vegetables
Vitamins
Working class
Workplace
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Summary:As part of the Harvard Cancer Prevention Program Project, we used a social contextual model of health behavior change to test an intervention targeting multiple risk-related behaviors in working-class, multiethnic populations. We examined the relationships between the social contextual factors in our conceptual model and changes in fruit and vegetable consumption from baseline to completion of intervention in health centers and small business studies. We analyzed change in fruit and vegetable consumption, measured at baseline and final assessments by self-report, in 2 randomized controlled prevention trials: 1 in small businesses (n = 974) and 1 in health centers (n = 1954). Stronger social networks, social norms that were more supportive, food sufficiency, and less household crowding were associated with greater change in fruit and vegetable intake. We also observed differences between our intervention sites. Social context can play an important role in promoting changes in fruit and vegetable consumption.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2006.088120