Psychosocial Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in a Japanese Population

Da-Hong Wang, Michiko Kogashiwa, Naoko Mori, Shikibu Yamashita, Wakako Fujii, Nobuo Ueda, Hiroto Homma, Hisao Suzuki and Noriyoshi Masuoka
Additional contact information
Da-Hong Wang: Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, 1-1 Ridai-cho, Okayama 700-0005, Japan
Michiko Kogashiwa: Department of Health and Nutrition, Junior College of Shimane University, 100-205 Horo-machi, Matsue 690-0886, Japan
Naoko Mori: Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Human Nutrition, Seitoku University, 550 Iwase, Matsudo 271-8555, Japan
Shikibu Yamashita: Department of Human Life, Faculty of Food and Nutrition, Okayamagakuin University, 2-28-12-201 Kugahara, Ohta, Tokyo 146-0085, Japan
Wakako Fujii: Department of Nutrition, Mimasaka Junior College, 50 kitazono-cho, Tsuyama 708-8511, Japan
Nobuo Ueda: Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Human Nutrition, Seitoku University, 550 Iwase, Matsudo 271-8555, Japan
Hiroto Homma: Department of Brewing and Fermentation, Junior College of Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
Hisao Suzuki: Institute for Education and Student Services, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Noriyoshi Masuoka: Department of Life Science, Okayama University of Science, 1-1 Ridai-cho, Okayama 700-0005, Japan

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: There is limited evidence in Japan regarding the psychosocial determinants of fruit/vegetable intake. We performed a cross-sectional study of people aged 18 years or older in four regions of Japan; 2308 (men: 1012, women: 1296) individuals who completed the questionnaires were included. We found that 24.8% of people were aware of the current recommendations for vegetables and 13.2% for fruit and that “ability to design meals” and “availability when eating outside of the home” were the most important factors related to self-efficacy and barriers to fruit and vegetable intake, respectively. People with high self-efficacy (OR: 3.16; 95% CI: 2.17, 4.60 for fruit; OR: 4.52; 95% CI: 3.08, 6.64 for vegetables) were more likely to consume more fruit and vegetables. People with high scores on attitude (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.24) and social support (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.27) were more likely to consume more fruit. People with high perceived barriers (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.98) were less likely to consume fruit. This study suggests a need to increase the general population’s awareness of the fruit and vegetable intake recommendations; facilitating positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and social support for individuals and strengthening the ability of individuals to design meals with more vegetables and fruit might be useful intervention programs.

Keywords: fruit; vegetables; psychosocial factors; self-efficacy; perceived barrier; attitude; responsibility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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