Determinants of Fruits and Vegetable Intake Among International Students in China

Authors

  • Ampon-Wireko Sabina  School of Management, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
  • Zhou Lulin  School of Management, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
  • Asante Antwi Henry  School of Management, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
  • Wireko Brobby Ebenezer  School of Management, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang 212013, PR China

DOI:

https://doi.org//10.32628/IJSRSET2072115

Keywords:

Fruits, Vegetables, Students, Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

Background : Adverse health impacts of poor diet among the youth have become a subject of key concern for researchers and health professionals. Recently, studies proposed social norms and perceived as determinants of nutritional behavior among students. Empirical results from other literature evidenced the hypothesis that fruits and vegetable intake in students is affected by other perceived benefits. The objective of the study is to examine the role of social norms, perceived barriers and perceived benefits in fruits and vegetable intake among oversea students in China.

Method and Material : The subjects of the study include 411 foreign students in China with a structured questionnaire regarding perceived barriers, social norms and perceived benefits of fruits and vegetables intake. Hypotheses were practically tested and confirmed through Structural Equation Modeling.

Findings : The findings of the study show standardized estimates of the consumption of fruits and vegetable indicators among international students in China. Factor loading regarding path analysis clearly indicates that perceived barriers and social norms would cause a decline of fruits and vegetable intake while perceived benefits will help enhance fruits and vegetable intake.

Conclusion : The study concludes that, nutritional education programs targeting student groups should be encouraged for a positive behavior change and transformation of group norms and adherence to fruit and vegetable consumption.

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International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology

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Published

2020-04-30

Issue

Volume 7, Issue 2, March-April-2020

Section

Research Articles

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How to Cite

[1]
Ampon-Wireko Sabina, Zhou Lulin, Asante Antwi Henry, Wireko Brobby Ebenezer, " Determinants of Fruits and Vegetable Intake Among International Students in China, International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology(IJSRSET), Print ISSN : 2395-1990, Online ISSN : 2394-4099, Volume 7, Issue 2, pp.575-584, March-April-2020. Available at doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRSET2072115