Identifying Underlying Beliefs About Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Low-Income Older Adults: An Elicitation Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract

Objective: Identify underlying salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among limited-income older adults.

Design: The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used as the framework for conducting semistructured individual interviews in 2016.

Setting: Two congregate meal sites in the city of Tuscaloosa, AL.

Participants: A total of 25 low-income older adults aged ≥60 years.

Main outcome measures: Behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about F&V intake.

Analysis: All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive content analysis approach.

Results: The elicitation interviews identified salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about F&V intake among low-income older adults.

Conclusions: These results can be used to develop nutrition education programs aimed at improving economically vulnerable older adults' F&V intake.

Keywords: Theory of Planned Behavior; elicitation study; fruit and vegetable intake; low-income older adults.