Investigating the predictive power of constructs of extended Pender’s health promotion model and some background factors in fruit and vegetable consumption behavior among government employees

Daily consumption of fruit and vegetable (F and V) can effectively reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases; therefore it is necessary to identify the factors affecting this behavior. This study aimed to determine the Predictive Power of Pender’s Health promotion model (HPM) constructs in F and V consumption behavior and the effects of some background variables on this behavior.

A descriptive‑correlation study was conducted on 418 employees working in different offices of Qaemshahr, Mazandaran Province from April 8, 2019, to July 23, 2019. The participants filled out a questionnaire about perceived F and V Consumption behavior based on Pender’s HPM Constructs. The data were statistically analyzed by descriptive statistics and parametric tests, including the Pearson correlation, Independent– Sample t‑test, One‑Way analysis of variance test, and multiple linear regression, in SPSS‑22.

The mean age of participants was 40.25 ± 7.56 years. The results showed that F and V consumption behavior was positively correlated with some constructs of Pender’s HPM including, behavioral outcome (r = 0.51, P < 0.001), previous related behavior (r = 0.48, P < 0.001), commitment to action (r = 0.47, P < 0.001), perceived self‑efficacy and behavior‑related emotions (r = 0.39, P < 0.001). Behavioral outcome alone explained 26% of the dependent variable changes (F and V consumption behavior). The results also indicated that there was a significant relationship between gender and F and V consumption behavior (P = 0.01).

The study findings demonstrated that some of Pender’s HPM Constructs could predict F and V consumption behavior. Behavioral outcome alone was a strong predictor of this behavior. Therefore, in addition to background variables, these constructs should be taken into account in the development of training interventions and courses.