Motivation System of Healthy and Safe Nutrition in Iranian Adolescent Girls: A Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVE: Motivation determines the possibility of an individual's intention to accept health-related behaviors. Despite the important role of the motivational system in conducting healthy and safe nutrition behavior, this issue has not been adequately addressed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explain the healthy and safe nutrition motivation system among Iranian adolescent girls. METHOD: In this qualitative study, conventional content analysis was used and participants were selected using the purposive sampling method. Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 42 adolescent girls in Shiraz, Iran. The interviews continued until data saturation was obtained. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Graneheim and Lundman qualitative content analysis by MAX-Q-DA (version 10) software. RESULTS: The data analysis resulted in three main categories for the participants' motivational factors for healthy and safe nutrition: (1) maintaining health and social functions, (2) maintaining the family's mental and economic health, and (3) achieving goals and success in life. The first category included two subcategories: “desire to have an appropriate look and appearance” and “fear of diseases and their complications.” The second category included two subcategories of “maintaining the family's mental health” and “maintaining the family's economic health.” The third category consisted of two subcategories: “desire to form a family and be successful in life” and “achieving the future career goals.” CONCLUSION: The motivation to maintain health and social functions, to maintain the family's mental and economic health, and to achieve goals and be successful in life has a powerful impact on the decisions and behaviors of adolescent girls to have safe and healthy nutrition. Therefore, recognizing the motivational system, as a key and determinative factor in developing the adolescents' intention to adopt health-related behaviors, is an effective step to design and develop successful interventions in promoting nutritional behaviors.