The effect of intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on improving nutritional behaviors of students

Proper nutritional behavior plays an important role in promotion of physical, mental health of students. The present study aimed to investigate an intervention program based on the “theory of planned behavior” to enhance students’ nutritional behavior.This quasi-experimental controlled randomized study with before and after design was conducted on 67 elementary school students from two schools. Subjects were randomly divided into experimental (32 students) and control (35 students). The intervention program was performed for the trial group students over 4 weeks. Two weeks later, data were collected using a questionnaire based on the constructs of theory of planned behavior, and were analyzed using SPSS-13 software, independent and paired t-tests, and Chi-square at significant level of 95%. Before intervention, no significant differences were found in theory constructs between the two groups but, after intervention, significant differences were observed between the two groups for attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.Given the results obtained, it can be concluded that health promotion programs based on the theory of planned behavior have an effective role in enhancing students’ nutritional behavior.