(P28-045-23) Social Cognitive Theory-Based Nutrition Intervention To Improve Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle Among Rural Texas High School Students: A Pilot Study

Objectives: Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle among rural Texas High school students (HEALTH) program was guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to foster participants’ life skills resulting in healthy behaviors and obesity prevention. Objectives were to examine the effects of HEALTH intervention on students’ knowledge, skills, confidence, dietary intakes, physical activity (PA), perceived stress, and support, and to explore their perspectives, motivations, and barriers to healthy behavior changes based on SCT constructs.

Methods: Several rural schools were recruited based on the existing collaborations. One school agreed to participate in the program, which consisted of 8 weekly lessons with a pre-post waitlist-control design during school hours. Eighteen students (11 control and 7 intervention) consented to participate. Qualtrics surveys were administered to measure personal (cooking skills, nutrition knowledge, self-confidence, perceived stress, and sleep habit), environmental (home food environment and social support), and behavioral (dietary intake and PA) factors using validated questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U Test were used at p < .05. Focus group questions were developed based on SCT. Three focus groups with the intervention group were held at post-intervention. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results: In the intervention group, food safety knowledge (p < .05) and social support for healthy eating from friends (p < .05) were significantly improved. Between groups, the intervention group decreased significantly in diet soft drink consumption (p < .05), and the control group increased significantly in self-confidence in healthy eating (p < .05). Five themes were identified from the focus groups: confidence in utilization of knowledge, (dis)satisfaction of current routine, stress from responsibilities, influence without power, supportive social environment but weak physical environment.

Conclusions: The positive healthy behavior trends were observed in the intervention group, but not significant. It is reflective of the messages from the focus group where they expressed high interest to perform healthy behaviors but have environmental challenges and do not have power over food choices.

Funding Sources: Texas Tech University