Social Cognitive Theory-Based Educational Intervention Program on Sustainable Eco-Friendly Nutrition

February 6, 2026 updated by: Sumeyra YILMAZ, Gazi University

The Effect of a Social Cognitive Theory-Based Educational Intervention Program on Sustainable Eco-Friendly Nutrition, Nutritional Attitudes, and Self-Efficacy in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is designed as a parallel-group randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a sustainable environmentally friendly nutrition educational intervention program developed based on the principles of Social Cognitive Theory. The intervention aims to improve sustainable environmentally friendly nutrition behaviors, nutritional attitudes, and nutrition self-efficacy among adolescents.

Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group using a computerized simple randomization procedure conducted by an independent researcher. Allocation concealment will be ensured through participant coding, and data analysis will be performed by an independent biostatistician blinded to group assignments.

The intervention group will participate in a structured six-week educational program, consisting of one session per week. Each session will last approximately 40 minutes and will focus on a specific module addressing the relationship between climate change, environmental sustainability, and nutrition. Program content is grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, emphasizing observational learning, self-regulation, outcome expectations, and self-efficacy enhancement. Educational methods will include interactive presentations, group discussions, games, and activity-based learning supported by visual and audio materials to promote engagement and long-term behavioral change.

To reinforce learning and facilitate behavior maintenance, supplementary reinforcement messages will be delivered throughout the intervention period. Communication with participants and their parents will be maintained via digital messaging platforms to support adherence and engagement.

The control group will continue their routine school curriculum without receiving any nutrition-related educational intervention during the study period.

Outcome data will be collected at four time points: baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after completion of the six-week program (post-intervention), and at one-month and three-month follow-up assessments. Data collection is expected to take approximately 25 minutes at each assessment point. The follow-up assessments are intended to evaluate the sustainability of behavior change over time.

The intervention will be implemented during the fall semester of the 2025-2026 academic year following the completion of ethical approval and institutional permissions.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is designed as a parallel-group randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a sustainable environmentally friendly nutrition educational intervention program developed based on the principles of Social Cognitive Theory. The intervention aims to improve sustainable environmentally friendly nutrition behaviors, nutritional attitudes, and nutrition self-efficacy among adolescents.

Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group using a computerized simple randomization procedure conducted by an independent researcher. Allocation concealment will be ensured through participant coding, and data analysis will be performed by an independent biostatistician blinded to group assignments.

The intervention group will participate in a structured six-week educational program, consisting of one session per week. Each session will last approximately 40 minutes and will focus on a specific module addressing the relationship between climate change, environmental sustainability, and nutrition. Program content is grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, emphasizing observational learning, self-regulation, outcome expectations, and self-efficacy enhancement. Educational methods will include interactive presentations, group discussions, games, and activity-based learning supported by visual and audio materials to promote engagement and long-term behavioral change.

To reinforce learning and facilitate behavior maintenance, supplementary reinforcement messages will be delivered throughout the intervention period. Communication with participants and their parents will be maintained via digital messaging platforms to support adherence and engagement.

The control group will continue their routine school curriculum without receiving any nutrition-related educational intervention during the study period.

Outcome data will be collected at four time points: baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after completion of the six-week program (post-intervention), and at one-month and three-month follow-up assessments. Data collection is expected to take approximately 25 minutes at each assessment point. The follow-up assessments are intended to evaluate the sustainability of behavior change over time.

The intervention will be implemented during the fall semester of the 2025-2026 academic year following the completion of ethical approval and institutional permissions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being a 6th or 7th grade student
  • Volunteering to participate in the study
  • Family approval for participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Following a specific nutrition program
  • Having communication difficulties (hearing, seeing, or understanding)
  • Having plans to travel/move out of town during the work period
  • Having special needs

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
Following pretests, participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and participation groups. The intervention group will receive a total of six weeks (six sessions) of the intervention program. Each session is planned to last approximately one class hour (40 minutes). Each session will begin with presentations based on literature, followed by various activities and games to reinforce the topic and support lasting behavioral changes in students. The games were designed according to the gamification model.
Other: Social Cognitive Theory-Based Educational Intervention Program

In this study, a sustainable eco-friendly nutrition educational intervention program was developed based on social cognitive theory. The sustainable eco-friendly nutrition educational intervention program will last six weeks. Each session will consist of one session per week, covering one module. Each session is expected to last approximately 40 minutes. Each module will utilize presentations based on the content, followed by various activities and games to reinforce the topic and support lasting behavioral changes in students.

To reinforce the knowledge and practices adolescents have learned and implemented during the program, and to strengthen the impact of the intervention, the researcher will prepare 12 SMS (Short Message Service) messages using various sources and send them individually to adolescents/parents.
No Intervention: Control Group
The control group will not receive any intervention and will continue their education in accordance with the current curriculum. Data collection tools will be administered again one and three months after the pretest, posttest, and interventions are completed in parallel with the intervention group. The intervention may be administered after the program is completed, at the request of the school administration.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Child Nutrition Self-Efficacy Scale
Time Frame: Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)
It was measured with the "Child Nutrition Self-Efficacy Scale", which is used to evaluate children's self-efficacy regarding nutrition. The scale consists of 15 items rated on a 3-point Likert scale. Total scores range from -15 to +15, with higher scores indicating greater nutrition self-efficacy and healthier food choices.
Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)
"Sustainable Eco-Friendly Nutrition Scale
Time Frame: Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)
The "Sustainable Eco-Friendly Nutrition Scale," developed by the researcher, was used to assess participants' sustainable eco-friendly nutritional behaviors. Higher scores on the scale indicate increased sustainable eco-friendly nutritional behavior The scale consists of 19 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 19 to 95, with higher scores indicating higher levels of sustainable environmentally friendly nutrition behavior.
Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)
Nutrition Attitude Subscale
Time Frame: Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)
It was measured with the "Nutrition Attitude Subscale" used to determine the participants' attitudes towards healthy nutrition. The nutrition subscale consists of 4 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating more positive nutrition attitudes.
Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sustainable Eco-Friendly Nutrition Behavior Score
Time Frame: Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)
The "Sustainable Eco-Friendly Nutrition Scale," developed by the researcher, was used to assess participants' sustainable eco-friendly nutritional behaviors. Higher scores on the scale indicate increased sustainable eco-friendly nutritional behavior.
Pre-intervention (week 1), post-intervention (week 6), follow-up time (at the end of month 1 and 3)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Gazi University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sümeyra Yılmaz, Gazi University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 22, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 31, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 26, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 26, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

January 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 6, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • E-77082166-302.08.01-1287221

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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