Susan Zies

An Examination of Factors Associated With Self-Efficacy for Food Choice and Healthy Eating among Low-Income Adolescents in Three U.S. States

Background: Self-efficacy is a crucial component in effective health communication and health promotion interventions and serves as a moderator for behavior change. Although awareness and risk perception are important in the behavior change process, self-efficacy gives people the necessary confidence in their ability to engage in advocated health behaviors. In addressing childhood obesity, self-efficacy plays a crucial role in dietary decisions. Informed by the social cognitive theory, this study examines the behavioral and environmental factors that determine self-efficacy for healthy food choices and healthy eating among adolescents in low income communities. Method: A survey was administered among adolescents in 6th to 8th grades from three U.S. States -- Kansas, Ohio and South Dakota (N=410). Results: Results show a correlation between efficacy for healthy food choice and the adolescent’s perceptions of behavioral control or sense of empowerment. Attitudes towards overall health predict efficacy for healthy eating and for healthy food choice. Other predictors for healthy eating include perceptions of peers’ health concerns and perceptions on healthy food availability whereas perceived control influences efficacy for healthy food choice. Gender played a significant role in adolescents’ perceptions of peers’ health concerns whereas geographical location (state played a role in their in adolescents’ attitudes toward health. Ethnicity was a more significant factor in their perceived barriers for healthy eating, perceptions for healthy food availability and in attitudes towards health. Conclusion: The study suggests ethnic-specific nutrition education that focuses on attitudes towards health as well as community partnerships that would support a healthy food environment to enhance self-efficacy and healthy dietary behaviors among adolescents.

Ignite-Sparking Youth to Create Healthy Communities: A Protocol for a Community-Centered Effort for the Prevention of Adolescent Obesity

Objective: To observe outcomes of a community-centered approach to identifying behavioral and environmental factors that influence overweight and obesity in 6th-8th grade youth in selected lowincome, racial/ethnic communities. Design: Five-year, tri-state, quasi-experimental design with environmental assessments and a questionnaire measuring nutrition and physical activity knowledge and behavior conducted in all communities at pre and post. Setting: Low-income, minority communities targeting 6th-8th grade youth. Participants: One experimental and one control communities will be selected via each state’s Cooperative Extension network through an application and review process with the random selection of participating communities. Intervention(s): Academic institutions will work with community leaders to establish and help support community committees tasked to plan, implement and evaluate one nutrition and one physical activity intervention. Main Outcome Measure(s): Assess environmental changes associated with increased intake and variety of fruits and vegetables; decreased intake of foods high in solid fats and added sugars; and an increase in physical activity among 6th-8th grade youth. Analysis: Baseline and post environmental data and pre and post questionnaire data will be analyzed using t-tests, chi-square, and ANOVA with a p < 0.05 to establish statistical significance.

Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Ignite Youth to Create Healthier Communities

goal for this research. Plans for campus wellness initiatives and policy updates with our newly renovated student center, dining facilities and vending operation contracts provides timely promotion for our interventions. Description of Course and Curriculum: The Community Nutrition course includes exploration of community, state and national food and nutrition programs with emphasis on program goals, intervention and policy formulation. Students involved in the Advanced Food Systems Class are also included due to the focus on motivational theory and skills used to influence and for decision making in leadership roles. Evaluation: Students involved in the data collection learned how to complete campus environmental audits, interpret survey data while meeting course learning objectives. So far, 67 students are involved in this project. Students were receptive to this experiential learning related to research. Conclusions and Implications: Faculty led research projects can be used for skill development in program planning and motivational techniques as well as exposure to CBPR research methods. Funding: USDA.

Motivation for obesity prevention among adolescents in low-income communities in three U.S. states

ABSTRACT Adolescence obesity is one of the public health concerns that contribute to health disparities in the United States. Low-income communities are disproportionately impacted due to socioeconomic, environmental, cultural, and behavioral factors. Motivating vulnerable populations is a crucial component in health and behavior change communication. This study seeks to understand adolescents’ motivation in the reduction of obesity and promoting healthier lifestyles in low-income communities. Data were gathered among adolescents in 6th to 8th grades (N = 410) with an age range of 11–15 years in three U.S. States – Kansas, Ohio, and South Dakota. There was a relationship between adolescents’ perceptions of support for physical activity in their communities and their motivation for health. Results also show an association between adolescents’ motivation for health and outcome expectancies, both of which significantly differed by state. Other identified predictors for motivation include their perceptions for physical activity and for peers’ motivation to stay healthy. Nutrition-related predictors include adolescents’ perceptions on food availability and self-efficacy for healthy food choice. Ethnicity contributed to the variance in adolescents’ attitudes toward physical activity, perceptions of healthy food availability, and in their motivation for health. This study suggests focusing culturally relevant communication efforts on available nutritional and physical activity support within the environment and on outcome expectations in motivating health and obesity reduction among adolescents. The role of peers as a crucial motivational factor in preventing adolescence obesity should further be explored.