Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling
Healthy eating is crucial for optimal growth, development, and the prevention of chronic diseases in adolescents. Our study aimed to develop a comprehensive structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and healthy eating among adolescent...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/1/167 |
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| author | Ke Jiang Laixi Zhang Changxiao Xie Zhourong Li Zumin Shi Manoj Sharma Yong Zhao |
| author_facet | Ke Jiang Laixi Zhang Changxiao Xie Zhourong Li Zumin Shi Manoj Sharma Yong Zhao |
| author_sort | Ke Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Healthy eating is crucial for optimal growth, development, and the prevention of chronic diseases in adolescents. Our study aimed to develop a comprehensive structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and healthy eating among adolescents in Chongqing. An online questionnaire was administered to middle school students in 39 districts and counties of Chongqing, China from 2 December to 15 December 2021 to collect sociodemographic and KAP information. SEM models were constructed to examine the relationships between educational environment and healthy eating knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The Monte Carlo test was employed to assess the significance of the mediating effect of relevant variables. The study included 139,832 adolescents aged 14.8 ± 0.7 years, with a 14% rate of overweight and obesity. Health and nutrition knowledge averaged a score of 3.60 ± 1.50 (correct rate: 60%). Participants had positive attitudes (average score: 13.61 ± 2.29) and engaged in healthy eating practices (average score: 12.06 ± 3.08). The results of the SEM revealed a significant influence of the educational environment on adolescents’ knowledge (β = 0.235, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and attitude towards healthy eating (β = 0.143, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Knowledge exhibited positive effects on both attitude (β = 0.225, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.054, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while attitude exhibited positive effects on practice behavior (β = 0.565, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The indirect effect of knowledge on practices through attitude was more substantial than the direct effect (ratio 2.361). Our study highlights the mediating role of attitude between healthy eating knowledge and practices. A significant association exists between a favorable educational environment and improved knowledge and positive attitudes toward healthy eating among adolescents. In the future, nutrition and health education should prioritize exploring effective ways to translate knowledge into practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:00:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46b180df327349dea5aed95fe4f5f3bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:00:14Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-46b180df327349dea5aed95fe4f5f3bb2024-01-10T15:05:48ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432024-01-0116116710.3390/nu16010167Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation ModelingKe Jiang0Laixi Zhang1Changxiao Xie2Zhourong Li3Zumin Shi4Manoj Sharma5Yong Zhao6School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400331, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400331, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400331, ChinaHuman Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, QatarDepartment of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USASchool of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400331, ChinaHealthy eating is crucial for optimal growth, development, and the prevention of chronic diseases in adolescents. Our study aimed to develop a comprehensive structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and healthy eating among adolescents in Chongqing. An online questionnaire was administered to middle school students in 39 districts and counties of Chongqing, China from 2 December to 15 December 2021 to collect sociodemographic and KAP information. SEM models were constructed to examine the relationships between educational environment and healthy eating knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The Monte Carlo test was employed to assess the significance of the mediating effect of relevant variables. The study included 139,832 adolescents aged 14.8 ± 0.7 years, with a 14% rate of overweight and obesity. Health and nutrition knowledge averaged a score of 3.60 ± 1.50 (correct rate: 60%). Participants had positive attitudes (average score: 13.61 ± 2.29) and engaged in healthy eating practices (average score: 12.06 ± 3.08). The results of the SEM revealed a significant influence of the educational environment on adolescents’ knowledge (β = 0.235, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and attitude towards healthy eating (β = 0.143, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Knowledge exhibited positive effects on both attitude (β = 0.225, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.054, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while attitude exhibited positive effects on practice behavior (β = 0.565, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The indirect effect of knowledge on practices through attitude was more substantial than the direct effect (ratio 2.361). Our study highlights the mediating role of attitude between healthy eating knowledge and practices. A significant association exists between a favorable educational environment and improved knowledge and positive attitudes toward healthy eating among adolescents. In the future, nutrition and health education should prioritize exploring effective ways to translate knowledge into practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/1/167healthy eatingknowledgeattitudespracticesstructural equation modelingadolescents |
| spellingShingle | Ke Jiang Laixi Zhang Changxiao Xie Zhourong Li Zumin Shi Manoj Sharma Yong Zhao Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling Nutrients healthy eating knowledge attitudes practices structural equation modeling adolescents |
| title | Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling |
| title_full | Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling |
| title_short | Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthy Eating among Adolescents in Chongqing, China: An Empirical Study Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling |
| title_sort | understanding the knowledge attitudes and practices of healthy eating among adolescents in chongqing china an empirical study utilizing structural equation modeling |
| topic | healthy eating knowledge attitudes practices structural equation modeling adolescents |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/1/167 |
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