[Research on the stage characteristics of Shanxi college students' dietary behavior improvement based on the Health Action Process Approach model]

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the stage characteristics in the dietary behavior improvement of college students and explore the role of social cognitive variables in the dietary behavior change based on the Health Action Process Approach.

Methods: Selfmade college students' eating behavior scales, college students' dietary rating scales and social cognitive scales were used to investigate their eating behavior, dietary stages, and eating intentions. A cluster random sampling was employed to select 2100 college students in 8 colleges and universities in Shanxi Province from April to November 2015, a total of 1933 valid questionnaires were retrieved. The respondents were grade one to four undergraduates, of whom 613 were boys and 1320 were girls.

Results: Cross-sectional survey result showed that the dietary behavior of college students in Shanxi Province was 118. 17 ± 15. 27. In the social cognitive variables, positive expectancy( t =-3. 98, P <0. 001) and behavioral intentions( t =-4. 03, P < 0. 001) had significant difference in gender, where girls were higher than boys. Self-efficacy, risk perception, outcome expectancy, action planning and dietary behavior all showed significant difference among preintenders, intenders and actors( P < 0. 01).

Conclusion: The action stage of dietary behavior improvement had the most students and there were different social cognitive variables at different dietary behavior stages. Researchers should implement targed health management for students at different dietary behavior stages to make their dietary behavior more reasonablely and scientifically.

Keywords: Health Action Process Approach; college students; dietary behavior; social cognitive variables.