Strategic self-presentation (motivational intervention [MI]) is a theoretical approach that is distinct from social cognitive theory (SCT). Specifically, strategic self-presentation involves increasing motivation by creating cognitive dissonance and inducing shifts in self-concept by generating positive coping strategies during a videotaped session. Fifty-three healthy African American adolescents were randomized to a SCT+MI, SCT-only, or an education-only group for increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake and physical activity. The SCT+MI and SCT-only groups received a 12-week SCT program. Students in the SCT+MI group also participated in a strategic self-presentation videotape session. Participants completed 3-day food records, completed measures of self-concept and self-efficacy, and wore an activity monitor for 4 days at pre- and posttreatment. Both the SCT+MI (2.6 +/- 1.4 vs. 5.7 +/- 2.2, p < .05) and the SCT-only (2.5 +/- 1.2 vs. 4.8 +/- 2.4, p < .05) groups showed greater increases in F&V intake from pre- to posttreatment as compared with the education-only group (2.3 +/- 1.0, vs. 3.3 +/- 2.1, p > .05). There were no significant time or group effects for any of the physical activity measures. Correlation analyses revealed that only the SCT+MI group showed that dietary self-concept (r = .58, r = .67, p < .05) and dietary self-efficacy (r = .65, r = .85, p < .05) were significantly correlated with posttreatment F&V intake and change in F&V intake, respectively. These findings suggest that the change in F&V intake in the SCT+MI group resulted from strategic self-presentation, which induced positive shifts in self-concept and self-efficacy.

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Mean BP nondipping was associated with victimization in both boys and girls. Boys who reported higher levels of hearing about violence showed greater daytime epinephrine excretion and were more likely to be classified as nondippers.

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