Reasoned Action Approach Correlates of Fruit and Vegetable Diet Among African American Men Living With HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study

Epidemiological evidence of the protective role of fruits and vegetables for a host of chronic health conditions is well-documented. However, there is a dearth of studies examining predictors of fruit and vegetable intake among African American men living with HIV. We report secondary analyses-multiple regression and logistic regression models fitted to examine the strength of the relationships between the reasoned action approach constructs; namely, attitudes, subjective norms, descriptive norms, self-efficacy and intention to consume fruits and vegetables, and self-reported adherence to 5-A-DAY guidelines. We used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of a physical activity intervention trial with 302 African American men aged 40 years or older (M = 53.9; SD = 7.2) living with HIV. Attitudes, subjective norms, descriptive norms, and self-efficacy were positively associated with intention to meet 5-A-DAY guidelines. More positive attitudes toward 5-A-DAY guidelines were associated with higher odds of meeting 5-A-DAY guidelines. More positive attitudes and self-efficacy were also positively associated with meeting the guidelines for intake of vegetable servings and fruit-and-vegetable servings combined. To increase fruit and vegetable intake among African American men living with HIV, interventions should be tailored to address the perceived benefits of consumption.