Intention for healthy eating among Southern Appalachian teens.

Objective: To describe the intention for healthy eating and its correlates among southern Appalachian teens. Methods: Four hundred sixteen adolescents 14 to 16 years old were surveyed with self-administered questionnaires. Results: About 30% of the adolescents surveyed had definite intentions to eat healthfully during the next 2 weeks. The scales for perceived behavior control, attitude, perceived eating habits of significant others, and social support were shown to be fairly reliable (Cronbach's a=0.60 to 0.88). Perceived behavior control and attitude were positively associated with the intention for healthy eating. Conclusions: Better behavior control and more positive attitude may lead to a stronger intention for healthy eating.