Economically Disadvantaged African-American Adolescents

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Research Article Critique
Di Noia, Jennifer-PhD, Schinke, Steven P-PhD, Prochaska, James O.-PhD, Contento, Isobel R.-PhD (2006). Application of the Transtheoretical Model to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Economically Disadvantaged African-American Adolescents: Preliminary Findings. Am J Health Promot. 2006; 20(5): 342-348
Introduction
According to the researchers, studies showed that African-Americans have lower fruit and vegetable intake than do non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics and individuals of other ethnic-racial backgrounds and like other U.S. ethnic-racial groups, their average intake decreases with income. The researchers further indicated that the TTM has been effective in predicting and promoting fruit and vegetable consumption
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The participants were African-American adolescents aged 11 to 14 who were enrolled in youth services agencies serving low-income communities in the greater New York area. In order for the participants to be eligible for the study, they were required to provide approval by obtaining written permission from one of their parents or legal guardians. In this study, 319 adolescents were eligible for participation. Out of the 319 participants, 57 participated in focus groups and pilot-testing procedures. The remaining 262 participants completed a cross-sectional …show more content…
They were then included in focus groups (48 youths) and pilot-testing procedures (9 youths). A second sample which consisted of 262 participants were used to determine the measurement structure and internal consistency reliabilities of the scales and to assess the relationships between TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption.
The design of the study was limited due to the use of a self-selected sample. Also, the participants were allowed to make suggestions for improving the wording and content of the cognitive testing portion of the study. In addition, the staging algorithm used in the study did not follow the typical TTM for staging populations in pre-action stages of change. According to the researchers, this may have led to biased results and also restricts the external validity of the study even though they were able to test their hypothesis. This in turn also limits the accuracy of their conclusion.

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