Rural adolescents suffer from poor nutrition, increasing their risk for obesity and other chronic diseases. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), an off-shoot of the National School Lunch Program, provides meals to qualifying children, including low-income, rural adolescents, under the age of 18. The purpose of this study was to: 1) examine the impact of the SFSP on the nutrition–related knowledge, self-reported fruit and vegetable (SRFV) consumption, and the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions) of rural, low-income adolescents; and 2) examine the relationship between nutrition behaviors (quality food selection and consumption) and participation in the SFSP using digital photography. The participants (N = 78) were recruited from those enrolled in the Upward Bound (UB) Summer Program at a mid-sized university that utilized the SFSP. The UB, a federally funded program, provided the opportunity to reach high school students from low-income, rural areas to study the aforementioned effects of the SFSP. The quasi-experimental pre- post-intervention design used a survey (n = 57) to determine predictors of positive nutrition behaviors and digital photography (n = 43) to determine actual food selection and consumption of those enrolled in the SFSP. A nutrition quality scale (0-6, with 6 indicating higher quality) was developed in order to categorize food items within food groups according to their nutritional value, and aided in determining quality of foods selected and consumed. Paired samples t-test showed a significant increase in knowledge (t(56) = -8.09, p = .000) and SRFV consumption (t(56) = -3.20, p = .002) from pre- to post-intervention. Regression analysis demonstrated that all constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) were significant (F(4, 52) = 14.56, p < .001 with an R2of .53) for predicting behavior intentions, with perceived behavioral control (PBC) being the most salient predictor of intentions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. A one-way repeated measures MANOVA was not significant for the comparison of pre- and post- survey scores for knowledge, SRFV consumption, and the constructs of the TPB, F (4, 53) = .604, p = .660. Digital photography showed a significant increase in consumption from week 1 (baseline) to week 5 (program completion) for fruit (t(42) = -2.04, p = .048) and milk (t(42) = -3.13, p = .003) at lunch, for milk (t(42) = -3.01, p = .003) at supper, and for milk overall (all three meals combined), t(42) = -3.08, p = .004. Vegetable consumption decreased significantly from week 1 to week 5 t(42) = 2.47, p = .018 at supper and overall (all three meals combined) t(42) = 2.65, p = .011. Two proportion z tests showed a statistically significant decrease in the selection of food items at quality level 2 from week 1 (.34) to week 5, z = 3.11, p = .002, and statistically significant increases in the selection of quality level 3 (.20), z = -2.15, p = .031, and quality level 5 (.17), z = -3.33, p < .000, item. Two proportion z tests showed a statistically significant decrease in the consumption of food items at quality level 5 from week 1 (.62) to week 5, z = 2.94, p = .003. However, the analysis showed no consistent increase in the quality of foods selected or consumed from week 1 to week 5. Opportunities for shaping adolescent nutrient intake and eating behaviors during and outside of enrollment in the SFSP exist. Reinforcing positive attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control while participants are enrolled in the SFSP may help to increase nutrition behavioral intentions and therefore, nutrition behaviors. Opportunities also exist for offering healthier food options for those participating in the SFSP. SFSP participants are a captive, impressionable group, and providing a supportive social and physical environment, and high nutritional quality choices in the SFSP more often may provide the potential for behavior change that may lead to an increase in healthy nutritious habits for adolescents from rural areas.

This study examined teachers’ beliefs about mental health issues in students. A quantitative research method was utilized, and survey instrument was created modeled after the theory of planned behavior. Thirty-seven teachers were surveyed in five areas in relation to their beliefs about assessment and referral; including, previous assessment and referral; mental health training; attitudes toward assessment and referral; the perceived social normality of assessment and referral; and perceived self-efficacy or behavior control. These five areas became independent variable measures, with the dependent variable being their future intention of assessing and referring students with mental health issues. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the overall model was statistically significant in predicting teachers’ intention to assess and refer students; however, independent analysis of independent variable revealed teachers’ attitudes, past behavior, and accesses to mental health training were most the most significant predictors of future intention. Implications of this study highlight the need qualified mental health professionals to be present in schools and/or expanded training of teachers.

The majority of organic foods consumed by Americans are sourced internationally, which has global-reaching implications on health, economics, and sustainability. Current research findings show that environmental devastation and negative health outcomes have resulted from unsustainable, nonorganic agricultural practices; including herbicides, pesticides, and overcultivation. However, there is a lack of quantitative research on factors that motivate Americans to consume organic food. Based on the theory of planned behavior, this quantitative study employed an online survey to examine the role of attitudes, subjective norms, descriptive norms, and perceived behavioral control on the intention and behavior of American consumers to consume organic foods. Additional descriptors of willingness to pay and perceived product attributes were also measured. Theory of planned behavior and American Organic Consumption questionnaires were completed by 276 adult consumers in the United States. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify relationships and create predictive models between constructs of a modified theory of planned behavior, sociodemographics, and organic consumption. Key findings revealed that a modified theory of planned behavior, which included descriptive norms, predicted intent to consume organics stronger than the nonmodified theory of planned behavior. Attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and descriptive norms were significant predictors of intention to consume organics. Health was perceived as the major product attribute for organic consumption and low willingness to pay was perceived as the major barrier. This study has implications for positive social change such that it contributes to understanding motivational factors behind American's food choices and consumption, which can be used to modify and target consumer behaviors and market campaigns.

Primary teachers in the United States accept responsibility for teaching children how to read, and the instruction they provide results in reading proficiency for approximately 37% of students. Although researchers have established a relationship between teacher-related factors and students' performance in reading, they have not yet been able to identify the combination of teacher characteristics that best predicts teachers' intention to provide evidence-based reading instruction. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among teacher knowledge, teacher beliefs, and intention to provide evidence-based reading instruction using a conceptual framework that integrated the theory of planned behavior with the implicit theory of intelligence. An online survey was used to gather data from a convenience sample of 37 primary teachers in the United States to examine characteristics effective reading teachers have in common. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated different patterns for different groups of readers. For beginning readers, teachers' behavioral beliefs was the only significant predictor of intention to provide evidence-based reading instruction. For struggling readers, teacher knowledge of reading disabilities was the only significant predictor of intention. This study provided additional evidence of deficits in teachers' knowledge of basic language concepts and reading disabilities. Identifying teacher characteristics that influence students' reading proficiency outcomes may inform efforts to improve professional development and teacher preparation programs to better support and prepare teachers to ensure successful reading outcomes for all children.

Obesity is a serious health problem that leads to several chronic diseases and premature deaths. TheIn this project,was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the the Weigh Forward (WF) program, a 10-week weight-loss program administered in retail clinics, was evaluated, and it is provided in retails stores. The project analysis was completed on a limited data set on The population consisted of 15 obese participantsmembers of the program, 18 years and above, at 13 dispersed clinics in Maryland and Virginia.in the WF program from 13 dispersed clinics in Maryland and VirgiObesity is a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. Participants were 18 years and above The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used as the framework from which to view the project. The project was usedpurpose was to determine the efficacy of the WF program for weight reduction by comparing the baseline body mass index (BMI) and the waist circumference (WC) to the BMI and WC at the end of the program. Descriptive The aanalysis was done using correlation coefficient on the 15 participants,, who completed the 10-week WF program. The result, showed the mean and mode for BMI reduction to be 2 kg/m2, and the mean and mode for the WC reduction was 3 inches. The percentage weight loss varied from 3-11%, with the completion rate for the enrolled participants at 29%. Thise study has implications for the social change because the findings support intensive behavioral modification as an effective approach to weight loss. The study can help healthcare providers appreciate the is the need to complete preventive care assessment on patients, identify patients with obesity, and provide these patients with the requisite information on the need to lose weight. Also, the clinicians provide the patients with information and available resources to enable help them lose weight. The mean and mode of 2 kg/m2 for BMI reduction, and 3 inches for the reduction in WC at the end of 10 weeks, showed that the WF program was effective for weight loss because the participants lost significant amount of weight. The findings from the project can guide the development of practice guidelines for administering the WF program in the retail clinic.

Workplace bullying caused business owners to lose about 80 million employees' workdays each year. Workplace bullying can cost an organization up to $300 billion for increased medical claims, lost productivity, and employee turnovers, and up to $23 billion in additional expenses, such as costs for employee absenteeism and legal costs. The purpose of this single case study was to explore successful strategies to address workplace bullying used by 7 human resource (HR) managers and executives in 1, small-to-medium-sized organization in Central Florida. The HR managers and executives had 5 or more years of HR experience. The risk management framework and theory of planned behavior were the conceptual frameworks that guided exploration of the phenomenon. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with HR managers and executives and from company artifacts, such as HR and risk management policies. Member checking and transcript review strengthened trustworthiness of data analysis and interpretations. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged from the data analysis: enhanced training, encourage reporting, develop HR business partner model, implement policies and guidelines, and enforce zero-tolerance policy. The findings of this study may contribute to positive social change by building awareness of workplace bullying for employees, organizations, and society, and by providing strategies to reduce the number of bullied victims and enrich social harmony within organizations and communities.

Many studies have observed the involvement of stakeholders in farm to school (FTS) programming to further understand their role, yet no study had previously assessed the role of Utah farmers in FTS programming. As a result, the purpose of this research was to describe Utah farmers' role in FTS programming and their interest in institutional marketing of local foods. The researcher sent an online descriptive survey to 5,470 farmers belonging to the Utah Farm Bureau. The survey used Dillman's Tailored Design Method. Of the 184 survey responses received, 143 surveys were usable. The theory of planned behavior was the theoretical framework for the study. Respondents reported a positive attitude toward FTS programming, although a majority (83.6%) had not participated. They indicated that building relationships with community members and increasing awareness of local food were top benefits associated with FTS programming. Top barriers to participating in FTS programming included a lack of information about schools seeking to purchase local products and restriction of growing seasons. Respondents indicated that they intended to host farm tours for students and food service personnel. Their training and resource needs related to FTS programming included small business assistance. Demographics characteristics revealed a majority of respondents were male and had more than 22 years of farming experience. The subjective norm and perceived behavioral control components of the theory of planned behavior statistically predicted the intention of respondents to participate in farm to school programming. Theory components, including attitude, accounted for 67.2% of the variance in intention to participate in FTS programming. These findings suggest other influences contributed to the intention of respondents to participate in FTS programming. One future research recommendation for FTS programming includes conducting similar studies with different groups of farmers. The researcher recommends continued use of the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical framework for studies assessing involvement in FTS programming. Variables not included in this study may discover further influences on farmers' intention to participate in FTS programming. One recommendation is to increase outreach and marketing to farmers who may be interested in FTS programming.

Understanding the motives for sunbathing and indoor tanning is an extremely important public health issue. UV exposure via sunbathing and utilization of sun lamps and tanning beds are considered important risk factors for the development of skin cancer. Psychosocial models of UV exposure are often based on theories of health behavior, but theory from the body image field can be useful in understanding motives to UV expose as well. The current study examines models that prospectively predict sunbathing and indoor tanning behaviors using constructs and interrelationships derived from the tripartite theory of body image (Thompson et al., 1999), as well as those from the theory of reasoned action (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980), health belief model (Rosenstock, 1974), revised protection motivation theory (Rogers, 1983), and a proposed integration of several health behavior models (Fishbein, 2000). The results generally support a model in which intentions mediate the relationship between appearance attitudes and tanning behaviors, appearance reasons to tan and intentions mediate the relationship between sociocultural influences and tanning behaviors, and appearance reasons not to tan and intentions mediate the role of perceived threat on behaviors. The implications of these findings yield important information relevant to the understanding of motives to UV expose, which can useful to the development of novel prevention and early intervention programs geared toward the reduction of skin cancer risk.

In the 21st century drug and alcohol abuse presents one of the most serious problems worldwide. Of particular concern is the strong relationship between drug use and crime. While law enforcement strategies, including incarceration, have been revealed to contribute little to break the vicious cycle of drug use and crime, substance abuse treatment has been shown to represent an effective form of intervention. Substantial research on the effectiveness of drug treatment has demonstrated the importance of motivation in predicting treatment retention and success. However, substance users are frequently coerced into therapy by external sources, including the criminal justice system, therefore, typically exhibiting little motivation to enter and remain in treatment long enough to overcome their substance addiction. Although past research investigating the effects of treatment-entry coercion indicates positive treatment results, the vast majority of these studies are seriously impeded by extensive conceptual and methodological problems, questioning the postulated value of coercion in substance abuse treatment. Following the call for a shift in the methodological focus of future studies made by some researchers, the author of the present study tested three models that were based on well-established theories. The first model was based on Self Determination Theory (SDT), a motivational theory, while the second model was based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), an expectancy-value theory. The third model consisted of a combination of the two theories, which was argued to provide a more complete and comprehensive model than each theory on its own. The testing of the models allowed the exploration of the dynamic interplay and relationships between a number of variables including perceptions of coercion, motivation, perceived autonomy support, and behavioural intentions in an effort to explain and predict retention and treatment outcomes amongst drug and alcohol abusers. The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved the development of a 29-item instrument called the Perceived Coercion Questionnaire, which was designed to assess participants' perceptions of coercion to enter drug and alcohol treatment originating from six different sources. The scale was shown to be a valid and reliable measure of the coercion construct. Phase 2 involved the testing of the three models longitudinally by using a sample of 350 substance abusers from six therapeutic communities across Australia. Participants were asked to complete a battery of standardised measures within the first two weeks of treatment admission (Time 1), two months into treatment (Time 2), and at completion of the treatment program (Time 3). The models were tested cross-sectionally and longitudinally employing hierarchical multiple regression analysis. In addition, change scores were calculated to test whether changes in predictor variables would predict outcomes and changes in outcomes cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Analyses of Time 1 and Time 2 cross-sectional data revealed that the SDT model, compared to the TPB and the combined model, provided a better and more parsimonious account of the factors that influence outcomes in therapeutic community treatment. Given the complexity of the study, it was decided to resume the analysis by focusing on the investigation of the SDT model alone. To highlight some of the most important findings, results demonstrated that motivation was a key factor in the treatment and rehabilitation of substance users. As anticipated, intrinsic motivation was consistently predictive of retention and more positive treatment outcomes, while external motivation and amotivation were associated with more negative outcomes. Results also revealed that clients who entered treatment as the result of a legal mandate experienced substantially higher levels of legal coercion compared to clients who entered treatment voluntarily. Legal coercion, in turn, was found to exert a negative impact on substance users' motivation for treatment, thereby indirectly resulting in more negative treatment outcomes. In contrast, self coercion (i.e., feelings of pain and suffering) and health-related pressures seemed to facilitate the development of a more intrinsic motivational attitude towards treatment. Besides, perceptions of competence and control in relation to the therapeutic regime emerged as consistent and important predictors of motivation and treatment outcomes. Finally, findings suggested that treatment staff who employed more autonomous and non-coercive strategies that guided substance users through the change process directly influenced individuals' treatment motivation and thereby facilitated more positive treatment outcomes. In sum, findings provided support for the usefulness of the SDT model in predicting dropout as well as processes and outcomes in therapeutic community drug and alcohol treatment. Implications for residential substance abuse treatment were discussed, as well as the strengths and limitations of the study. The discussion concludes with implications for practice and suggestions for future research.

<p>The purpose of this thesis was to increase the understanding of Swedish consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions of functional food for marketers by using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). It was discovered that previous research conducted in Sweden concerning functional food centered largely on motivational factors for adoption, and perception of the health claims made by these products; however there was a lack in research concerning purchase intentions and a use of theory to evaluate both attitudes and purchase intentions.</p><p>Both qualitative and quantitative research methodology were utilized in this thesis. The qualitative research data consisted of 14 short interviews designed to elicit beliefs about purchasing functional food. The quantitative research data was gathered using a questionnaire specifically designed for the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A total of 257 responses were received from students, employees, and members of the general public.</p><p>The results from the questionnaire revealed that Swedish consumers had slightly positive attitudes towards purchasing functional food and neutral intentions to purchase functional food. The results from the interviews revealed that amongst other things, Swedish consumers believed that functional foods provide beneficial health benefits, but they are quite expensive. Doctors and family were viewed as important when considering the purchase of functional food. And price and knowledge were viewed as controlling factors of whether or not these foods were purchased.</p><p>The results provided by this thesis will be helpful to marketers of functional food as they plan marketing related activities aimed at Swedish consumers</p>