Glorian Sorensen ^1*, Anne M. Stoddard ², Tamara Dubowitz ³, Elizabeth M. Barbeau ¹, JudyAnn Bigby ⁴, Karen M. Emmons ¹, Lisa F. Berkman ⁵, Karen E. Peterson ⁵

¹ Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
² New England Research Institute
³ University of Pittsburgh
⁴ Brigham and Women's Hospital
⁵ Harvard School of Public Health

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: glorian_sorensen{at}dfci.harvard.edu.

	Abstract

As part of the Harvard Cancer Prevention Program Project, we used a social contextual model of health behavior change to test an intervention targeting multiple risk-related behaviors in working-class, multiethnic populations. We examined the relationships between the social contextual factors in our conceptual model and changes in fruit and vegetable consumption from baseline to completion of intervention in both our Health Centers and Small Business studies. We analyzed change in fruit and vegetable consumption, measured at baseline and final assessments by self-report, in 2 randomized controlled prevention trials: 1 in small businesses (n=974) and 1 in health centers (n=1954). Stronger social networks, more supportive social norms, food sufficiency, and less household crowding were associated with greater change in fruit and vegetable intake. We also observed differences between our intervention sites, which may reflect differing approaches to the intervention or variations in the composition of each study population. Social context can play an important role in promoting changes in fruit and vegetable consumption.

Key Words: Cancer, Community Health, Health Promotion, Nutrition/Food, Prevention, Socioeconomic Factors

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