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Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0608-9539
Date Available
7-10-2026
Year of Publication
2026
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Psychology
Faculty
Matthew Kim
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this research study is to understand the interplay between health information and health motivation on eating behaviors in African American emerging adults. Greater knowledge of nutrition is linked to healthier eating outcomes, but the motivations that individuals possess about their ability to improve their health also play a pivotal role. However, the joint effect of such constructs (i.e., information and motivation) on eating behaviors is unknown. Emerging adults are still developing their capacities to exercise their health autonomy, and this developmental period represents an opportunity to intervene before the onset of age-related chronic diseases in middle adulthood. In addition, given widening racial gaps in health outcomes in the United States (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [NCCDPHP],2022), it is critical to examine the factors contributing to eating behaviors in the African American community which suffers disproportionate levels of obesity-related diseases (Braveman, 2010).
Methods: This study utilized a three-aim mixed-methods approach to enhance self-regulation skills and fruit and vegetable consumption among African American emerging adults. Aim 1 used qualitative thematic analysis to identify cognitive and psychological factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption. Aim 2 drew on these findings to develop culturally and developmentally sensitive video interventions and used thematic analysis to examine participant feedback on intervention storyboards prior to video production. Aim 3 employed an experimental design to examine the causal impact of different video interventions (information-only, motivation-only, combined, and control) across three time points (baseline, one week post-intervention, and six weeks post-intervention) on self-regulation skills and fruit and vegetable consumption.
Results: Aim 1 thematic analysis revealed several factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption. Participants emphasized convenience as a primary concern due to college-related demands. More broadly, increased autonomy was associated with greater responsibility for food-related tasks (e.g., grocery shopping, cooking, and meal preparation), and the effort required for these activities was perceived as a barrier to consumption. Participants also demonstrated a gap in nutrition knowledge, particularly regarding recommended fruit and vegetable intake for optimal health. From a motivational perspective, intrinsic value and effort cost emerged as key factors underlying participants’ lack of engagement in fruit and vegetable consumption. Self-regulation of dietary behaviors was influenced by mood, emotional state, the college food environment, and childhood eating patterns. Aim 2 outlined the structured development of the intervention, including mapping Aim 1 themes and typical eating patterns onto preproduction materials (e. g., scripts and storyboards), standardizing video components to isolate manipulated variables, obtaining participant feedback, revising materials, and completing video production (filming, recording, narration, and assembly). Aim 3 results indicated that the intervention did not meaningfully impact most of the targeted information and motivation constructs, including dietary quality knowledge of vegetables, intrinsic value, and effort cost. The only notable change was an improvement in dietary knowledge of fruit, particularly among participants in the motivation condition compared to baseline. Further, the intervention did not meaningfully influence self-regulation or fruit and vegetable consumption, and there was no evidence that changes differed by condition over time. However, vegetable consumption increased over time across participants, regardless of condition.
Discussion: The present study contributes to the literature on self-regulation, dietary behavior, and intervention development. Consistent with prior research, participants reported consuming fewer than the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables (approximately 1–2 servings total) among emerging adults. Also, in line with existing literature, intrinsic value, effort cost, and accessibility emerged as key factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption. Building on this foundation, the study extends the Information–Motivation–Behavioral Skills (IMB) model by highlighting the role of motivational constructs, particularly effort cost and intrinsic value, as key drivers of behavior, drawing on principles from Situated Expectancy-Value Theory within a health context. Additionally, the findings emphasize that broader environmental, structural, and contextual influences (e.g., food environments, stress, childhood habits, and accessibility) shape dietary patterns. The results further underscore that self-regulation is a dynamic process influenced by the interaction of internal states and external conditions, making it difficult to modify through brief, low-intensity interventions. Collectively, these findings offer a more comprehensive and contextually grounded framework for designing effective interventions to improve self-regulation and fruit and vegetable consumption. Additionally, while my original hypotheses were not supported, the results suggest that short, low-dose interventions may be insufficient to influence both underlying mechanisms and behavioral outcomes. This highlights the need for greater intervention dosage, repetition, and multi-component designs. Finally, this work provides a more nuanced, strengths-based understanding of African American emerging adults by acknowledging both the structural constraints they face and the assets they bring. Using an interdisciplinary lens, these findings inform the development of future culturally and developmentally sensitive interventions aimed at enhancing self-regulation and fruit and vegetable consumption.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.345
Archival?
Archival
Funding Information
Graduate Student Research Funds, University of Kentucky
Recommended Citation
Buford, Kristen, "A MIXED METHOD INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF INFORMATION AND MOTIVATION ON SELF-REGULATION SKILLS AND FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION" (2026). Theses and Dissertations--Psychology. 308.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/psychology_etds/308
