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Updated: May 26, 2026

Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
Processes of change for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged African American
Jennifer Di Noia1, Debbe Thompson
1William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470, USA. dinoiaj@wpunj.edu
Abstract:
This study sought to identify Transtheoretical Model processes of change associated with consumption of ≥5 daily servings of FVs in a sample of economically disadvantaged African American adolescents (N=549; mean (SD) age=12.44 (.99) years; 61% female; 15% African American Hispanic). Participants completed measures of stages and processes of change, and were ranked according to intake level based on their reported stage. Spearman correlations and independent samples t tests were used in cross-sectional analyses of the relationship between processes of change and FV consumption. Consciousness raising, environmental reevaluation, helping relationships and stimulus control processes were significantly associated with FV consumption (ρ≥.12; p<.01), and were practiced more often by youths who consumed ≥5 daily servings of FVs relative to those who did not (p<.05). Findings highlight the potential of these processes for increasing FV consumption in this population.
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