Volume 31, Issue 2: April, 2004

Abstract

Stages of Change for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Deprived Neighborhoods

Gitte C. Kloek, MSc, Frank J. van Lenthe, PhD, Peter W. M. van Nierop, MSc, and Johan P. Mackenbach, MD, PhD

This article describes the association of external and psychosocial factors on the stages of change for fruit and vegetable consumption, among 2,781 inhabitants, aged 18 to 65 years, in deprived neighborhoods (response rate 60%). To identify correlates of forward stage transition, an ordinal logistic regression model, the Threshold of Change Model (TCM), was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that men, those from Dutch origin, those with (rather) low health locus of control, those displaying risk behaviors, and those without knowledge of dietary guidelines were less likely to move from one stage to another and therefore were more likely to be in a lower stage-of-change category. The results make it possible to distinguish target groups, which should receive more attention in future health promotion campaigns, and to identify factors to be addressed in those programs.