Effect of Transtheoretical Model Based Nutrition Education on Sustainable Nutrition Behavior in Adolescents

Investigating The Effect Of Transtheoretical Model Based Nutrition Education On Sustainable Dietary Behaviour In Adolescents

The aim of this intervention study is to evaluate the effect of sustainable nutrition education based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) on adolescent behavior.

The main questions to be answered are:

• Do adolescents have sufficient knowledge about sustainable nutrition?
• Can a sustainable nutrition education based on TTM lead to positive changes in the sustainable eating habits of adolescents?

Researchers will compare the study group that received the education with the control group that did not receive the education to determine the effect of TTM based nutrition education on dietary behavior.

Participants will:

• Receive education relevant to the behavior change phase.
• Receive a maximum of two training sessions per week, and the training will last 5 weeks.

Sustainable diets are essential for maintaining health and meeting the nutritional needs of future generations. Adolescents, who make up over 16% of the world's population, play a crucial role in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Adolescent health is essential for maintaining maternal and child health, reducing quality of life, and life expectancy. Traditional interventions, such as health education, are less effective than theory-based methods. The transtheoretical model has been reported as a successful strategy for nutrition interventions aimed at improving dietary behavior among adolescents, highlighting the importance of ensuring adolescents have the right eating habits and adequate nutrition for a healthy society.

This study was planned to examine the effect of TTM-based sustainable nutrition education on behaviour in adolescents. Permission was obtained from the Ministry of National Education for the study.

The study group (n = 35), which will receive the educational intervention, will be randomly selected from 9th grade students studying at high school in Ankara who agree to participate in the study. The control group (n = 35), which will not receive educational intervention, will be randomly selected among 9th grade students who are studying at another high school with a similar socioeconomic and educational level and who agree to participate in the study in order to prevent peer interaction.

Before the educational intervention, the researcher will apply the prepared questionnaire form to both the control group and the study group using the face-to-face interview technique. In addition, the Transtheoretical Model of Sustainable Nutrition Behaviour Change Stage Question will be asked, the behavior stage of the participants will be determined, and the Transtheoretical Model of Sustainable Nutrition Behaviour Scales will be applied.

In the second phase of the study, the working group will participate in the Transtheoretical Model-Based Sustainable Nutrition Education Programme. The training will take place twice a week in sessions of 35 to 40 minutes each. The training will last 5 weeks.

In the final phase of the study, the prepared questionnaire form, the Transtheoretical Model Sustainable Nutrition Behaviour Change Stage Questionnaire and the Transtheoretical Model of Sustainable Nutrition Behaviour Scales will be administered to both the control and study groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being in the ninth grade
• Read the consent form and mark the phrase "I accept" in the form.
• Being between the ages of 14-18
• Food insecurity raw score is less than 2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being in the 10th, 11th, 12th grade
• Refusing to participate in the study
• Food insecurity raw score is less than 2
• Being on a special diet due to a health problem