Exploration and forecasting of behaviours and factors relating to fruit and vegetable intake among seniors in the community

Objective The present study investigated the current status of fruit and vegetable intake among seniors and assessed the relationship between personal background factors, social psychological factors and environmental factors of the study participants and their fruit and vegetable consumption behaviour. Design Research data were collected through individual interviews using a questionnaire developed by the authors. SPSS for Windows 15·0 statistical software was used to process and analyse the data. Setting Elderly individuals sampled from all twenty-nine administration units of Keelung City's Renai District were interviewed. Subjects Study participants included 398 residents aged 65 years or older. Results On average, study participants ate five daily servings of fruits and vegetables on 2·86 d/week. The important variables influencing fruit and vegetable consumption were education level, outcome expectancy, social support, self-efficacy, frequency of dining out and role modelling. Educated participants consumed more fruits and vegetables than those without education. Outcome expectancy, social support, self-efficacy and role modelling had positive impacts on fruit and vegetable intake, but frequency of dining out had a negative impact on fruit and vegetable intake. The significant predictors of fruit and vegetable intake behaviour were education level, outcome expectancy, social support and frequency of dining out. Among those variables, social support was the most influential factor. Conclusions Our findings supported the conclusion that health education strategies to increase fruit and vegetable intake among seniors should include the variables of social support and outcome expectancy.