The Effect of Theory Planned Behavior Education to Students Through Role-play to Promote Preventive Behaviors in the Consumption of Junk Food

The consumption of junk food as a snack among children, especially in elementary school students is on the rise. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the effects of education based on theory planned behavior (TPB) through role-playing in promoting preventive behaviors among students with high consumption of junk food.
This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 189 students in the city of Arak (Iran), randomly divided into two, the experimental (n=98) and the control (n=91) groups. Data was gathered with a questionnaire based on the TPB, followed by intervention in 4 sessions, with role playing for the group intervention. Finally after 3 months of data from the two groups was collected and analyzed.
Before the intervention, all variables except for the knowledge and subjective norm were not significantly different between the two groups. However after the intervention all structures in the two groups showed statistically significant differences (p The educational intervention through role-play based on theory planned behavior, decreased junk food consumption behaviors. Besides such programs, follow up education for controlling andmonitoring are highly recommended.