A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of an Intervention Based on the Health Action Process Approach for Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Iranian Adolescents Publisher Pubmed



Lin CY¹ ; Scheerman JFM^{2, 7, 8} ; Yaseri M³ ; Pakpour AH^{4, 5} ; Webb TL⁶ Show Affiliations
Source: Psychology and Health Published:2017

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate an intervention programme based on the Health Action Process Approach and designed to increase the intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V) among Iranian adolescents aged 13 to 18. Design: A randomised controlled trial with three arms examined the short- (1 month) and long-term (6 months) effects of the intervention. There were two intervention groups (one included adolescents only [A group; n = 510]; the second included mothers and adolescents [M + A group; n = 462]) and a control group (n = 483). All participants were recruited from schools. Main outcome measures: Social cognitions, self-regulatory processes and F&V intake. Results: The intervention led to an increase in F&V intake for adolescents in the short and long terms. Adolescents in the M + A group increased their F& V intake more than adolescents in the A group. Outcome expectancies, self-monitoring, intentions, action and coping planning, perceived social support and behavioural automaticity mediated the effect of the intervention on F&V intake. Conclusion: The theory-based intervention led to an increase in F&V intake and promoted more positive social cognitions and self-regulatory processes among Iranian adolescents. The findings also provide evidence that involving mothers in an intervention can confer additional benefit. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.