Predictors of Nutrition Information Comprehension in Adulthood

Overview

Journal Patient Educ Couns

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Health Services
Nursing

Date 2009 Oct 27

PMID 19854605

Citations 13

Authors

Lisa M Soederberg Miller

Tanja N Gibson

Elizabeth A Applegate

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The goal of the present study was to examine relationships among several predictors of nutrition comprehension. We were particularly interested in exploring whether nutrition knowledge or motivation moderated the effects of attention on comprehension across a wide age range of adults.

Methods: Ninety-three participants, ages 18-80, completed measures of nutrition knowledge and motivation and then read nutrition information (from which attention allocation was derived) and answered comprehension questions.

Results: In general, predictor variables were highly intercorrelated. However, knowledge, but not motivation, had direct effects on comprehension accuracy. In contrast, motivation influenced attention, which in turn influenced accuracy. Results also showed that comprehension accuracy decreased-and knowledge increased-with age. When knowledge was statistically controlled, age declines in comprehension increased.

Conclusion: Knowledge is an important predictor of nutrition information comprehension and its role increases in later life. Motivation is also important; however, its effects on comprehension differ from knowledge.

Practice Implications: Health educators and clinicians should consider cognitive skills such as knowledge as well as motivation and age of patients when deciding how to best convey health information. The increased role of knowledge among older adults suggests that lifelong educational efforts may have important payoffs in later life.

Citing Articles

Health Belief and Behavioral Analysis of Fad Diets: A Perspective from Younger Generations in a Developing Country.

Baldemor R, Ong A, German J, Bautista N, Alonso M, Alidio O Foods. 2024; 13(12).

PMID: 38928800 PMC: 11203364. DOI: 10.3390/foods13121858.

Patterns and correlates of nutrition knowledge across five countries in the 2018 international food policy study.

Bhawra J, Kirkpatrick S, Hall M, Vanderlee L, White C, Hammond D Nutr J. 2023; 22(1):19.

PMID: 36922823 PMC: 10018957. DOI: 10.1186/s12937-023-00844-x.

Effect of Warning Labels on Consumer Motivation and Intention to Avoid Consuming Processed Foods.

Adasme-Berrios C, Aliaga-Ortega L, Schnettler B, Parada M, Andaur Y, Carreno C Nutrients. 2022; 14(8).

PMID: 35458109 PMC: 9029137. DOI: 10.3390/nu14081547.

Who Buys Products with Nutrition and Health Claims? A Purchase Simulation with Eye Tracking on the Influence of Consumers' Nutrition Knowledge and Health Motivation.

Steinhauser J, Janssen M, Hamm U Nutrients. 2019; 11(9).

PMID: 31547369 PMC: 6769812. DOI: 10.3390/nu11092199.

An Evaluation of an eHealth Tool Designed to Improve College Students' Label-Reading Skills and Feelings of Empowerment to Choose Healthful Foods.

Miller L, Sutter C, Wilson M, Bergman J, Beckett L, Gibson T Front Public Health. 2018; 5:359.

PMID: 29376048 PMC: 5768899. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00359.

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