Effects of an Online Community Intervention on Taiwanese Sugar Intake Behavior

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Published: May 31, 2021
Keywords:
health knowledge self-efficacy attitude perceived healthy behavior

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Matere Manyonge Isaac
Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Cathy Weng
Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Chien-Yu Chen
Graduate Institute of Color, Imaging, and Illumination Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Tran-Nguyen Phuong Khanh
Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Abstract

Sugar intake has increasingly been a threat because of its association with chronic diseases such as diabetes. During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, people have stayed indoors with minimal activities, leading to unhealthy eating habits and weight gain. However, through health-promotion education, these threats could be managed. This study focused on an online heath nutrition program for sugar reduction, with an aim of developing an online training program for reducing sugar intake. Data were collected from 100 participants belonging to a Facebook community in Taiwan. They performed activities guided by research’s daily lesson plans for a maximum of 10 minutes per day for three weeks. Online questionnaires were used for the pretest and posttest. Findings revealed significant differences in health knowledge (t(99) = -8.27, p < .001), attitude (t(99) = -8.98, p < .001), self-efficacy (t(99) = -10.14, p < .001), and perceived healthy behavior (t(99) = -12.40, p < .001), with their posttest scores being higher than their pretest scores. These findings imply that online training on Facebook is an effective educational tool during the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study contributes to behavioral science knowledge by revealing Facebook as a facilitating and training platform for promoting healthy behavior, and access to information on reduction of sugar intake during pandemic. Furthermore, these findings could be used as empirical evidence of the possibility of implementing online nutrition programs for the teaching and training of online communities.

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How to Cite
Isaac, M. M. ., Weng, C. ., Chen, C.-Y., & Phuong Khanh, T.-N. (2021). Effects of an Online Community Intervention on Taiwanese Sugar Intake Behavior. The Journal of Behavioral Science, 16(2), 16–27. Retrieved from https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/article/view/249235
Issue
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2021): The Journal of Behavioral Science (2021)
Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Chien-Yu Chen, Graduate Institute of Color, Imaging, and Illumination Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Graduate Institute of Color, Imaging, and Illumination Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Tran-Nguyen Phuong Khanh, Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Sugar intake has increasingly been a threat because of its association with chronic diseases such as diabetes. During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, people have stayed indoors with minimal activities, leading to unhealthy eating habits and weight gain. However, through health-promotion education, these threats could be managed. This study focused on an online heath nutrition program for sugar reduction, with an aim of developing an online training program for reducing sugar intake. Data were collected from 100 participants belonging to a Facebook community in Taiwan. They performed activities guided by research’s daily lesson plans for a maximum of 10 minutes per day for three weeks. Online questionnaires were used for the pretest and posttest. Findings revealed significant differences in health knowledge (t(99) = -8.27, p < .001), attitude (t(99) = -8.98, p < .001), self-efficacy (t(99) = -10.14, p < .001), and perceived healthy behavior (t(99) = -12.40, p < .001), with their posttest scores being higher than their pretest scores. These findings imply that online training on Facebook is an effective educational tool during the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study contributes to behavioral science knowledge by revealing Facebook as a facilitating and training platform for promoting healthy behavior, and access to information on reduction of sugar intake during pandemic. Furthermore, these findings could be used as empirical evidence of the possibility of implementing online nutrition programs for the teaching and training of online communities.