Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312063
Title: Influence of behavioral theory on fruit and vegetable intervention effectiveness among children: A meta-analysis

Author
item DIEP, CASSANDRA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item CHEN, TZU - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item DAVIES, VANESSA - University Of Santa Catarina
item BARANOWSKI, JANICE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2014
Publication Date: 11/1/2014
Citation: Diep, C.S., Chen, T.A., Davies, V.F., Baranowski, J.C., Baranowski, T. 2014. Influence of behavioral theory on fruit and vegetable intervention effectiveness among children: A meta-analysis. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 46(6):506-546.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to test the hypotheses that interventions clearly based on theory, multiple theories, or a formal intervention planning process will be more effective in changing fruit and vegetable consumption among children than interventions with no behavioral theoretical foundation. The study design was a systematic review and meta-analysis through identification of articles in PubMed, PsycInfo, Medline, Cochrane Collaborative database, and existing literature reviews and meta-analyses. Study participants were children aged 2–18 years, and articles targeted a change in fruit and/or vegetable consumption in dietary change interventions. For analyses, the authors conducted meta-analysis, meta-regression analysis, and summary reporting for articles. Based on findings, predicating an intervention on behavioral theory had a small to moderate enhancement (P<.001) of outcome effectiveness. Differences in mean Hedges' g effect sizes between theory and non-theory interventions were 0.232 for fruit, 0.043 for vegetables, and 0.333 for fruit and vegetables combined. There was mixed support, however, for enhanced dietary change with multiple theories or a formal planning process. After controlling for study quality, theory use was related only to vegetable consumption (B=0.373; P<.001). More research is needed on theory's influences on dietary behaviors to guide future interventions among children. More research is also needed to identify what may be effective practical- or experience-based procedures that complement theory, to incorporate into interventions.