A University Student-Led Hope-Based Intervention Improves Fruit and Vegetable Intake, Functional Fitness, and BMI...

For this program, we designed and delivered a 15-week, student-led health education intervention using Persuasive Hope Theory (PHT) with a diverse sample of older adults in urban Alaska to increase feelings of hope and improve health. This mixed-methods investigation into the intervention's efficacy utilized dependent sample t-tests to demonstrate that the number of servings of fruit and vegetables increased significantly after the program. Body mass index (BMI) was statistically lower and self-rated health was significantly higher compared to before the intervention. Descriptive statistics indicate that approximately half of participants' functional fitness improved but there were no significant differences in self-efficacy or physical activity patterns over time. Program satisfaction results qualitatively and quantitatively indicated that participants were satisfied with the intervention that helped to decrease BMI and increase fruit and vegetable intake, self-rated health, and functional fitness, which can serve as a model for other intergenerational healthy aging initiatives across the Circumpolar North.