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- Title
In Defense of Food Curriculum: A Mixed Methods Outcome Evaluation in Afterschool.
- Authors
Luesse, Hiershenee B.; Luesse, Joseph E.; Lawson, Jordan; Koch, Pamela A.; Contento, Isobel R.
- Abstract
Background. Highly processed foods are inexpensive and abundant in our food supply, nutritionally poor, and disproportionately marketed to minority youth. This study is part of a curriculum development project to develop, implement, and evaluate the In Defense of Food (IDOF) curriculum designed to increase intake of whole/minimally processed foods and decrease intake of highly processed foods in youth. Aims. This pilot outcome evaluation was undertaken to assess initial effectiveness and to provide an in-depth understanding of changes in behavioral outcomes and psychosocial mediators. Methods. We used an explanatory mixed method approach, including a single-arm pretest–posttest of intervention effect, followed by a food rules assessment and in-depth interviews to describe participant responses to the intervention in more detail. The study was conducted in three afterschool classrooms in urban low-income neighborhoods with 32 multiethnic middle-school youth, receiving 10 weekly 2-hour sessions. Results. Two weeks postintervention, there was a large positive significant increase in whole/minimally processed food intake (p <.01; d = 0.59) and a small decrease in consumption of highly-processed foods (p = ns; d = 0.06), compared with baseline. Significant increases in psychosocial mediators: Self-efficacy and positive outcomes expectations were seen; others were not significant but changed in the desired direction. Qualitative assessments suggest that the intervention promoted skill building, but environmental barriers made these difficult to use. Discussion. The IDOF curriculum may be most effective for promoting consumption of fruits and vegetables, rather than decreasing intake of highly processed foods. In addition, in this young age-group, short actionable food rules may support self-regulation and behavior change. Conclusion. Among adolescent students in low-income urban neighborhoods, the IDOF afterschool curriculum may help promote self-efficacy and positive outcome expectancies and increase fruit and vegetable intake. Focusing on food processing and using "Food Rules" may be promising to elicit behavior change in youth; however, greater supports are needed to overcome social and environmental barriers.
- Subjects
COMPARATIVE studies; CONCEPTUAL structures; COOKING; STATISTICAL correlation; CURRICULUM; FOOD; FOOD habits; GOAL (Psychology); INTERVIEWING; RESEARCH methodology; MIDDLE school students; HEALTH outcome assessment; QUESTIONNAIRES; SCALE analysis (Psychology); SCHOOLS; T-test (Statistics); TEENAGERS' conduct of life; JUDGMENT sampling; EFFECT sizes (Statistics); THEMATIC analysis; HUMAN services programs; PRE-tests &; post-tests; EDUCATIONAL outcomes; INTER-observer reliability; DATA analysis software; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
Health Education & Behavior, 2019, Vol 46, Issue 4, p612
- ISSN
1090-1981
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/1090198119831750