The effect of social cognitive theory-based nutrition education via whatsapp on increasing knowledge and behavioral determinants of mothers in Kediri: A quasi-experimental study

Dzakiyyatul Fikrah 'Arifah -  Master of Nutrition Science Postgraduate Program, Department of Community Nutrition, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
Yayuk Farida Baliwati* -  Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
Ali Khomsan -  Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia, Indonesia
DOI : 10.30867/action.v10i2.2449

Poor dietary patterns and poor nutritional status increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. Obesity and overweight are major nutritional issues in Kediri. The family environment, particularly the mother's role as a food gatekeeper, is crucial for shaping children's eating habits. This study applies Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which emphasizes the interaction between individuals, behavior, and the environment. Social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, can be utilized to promote health. This study examined the effect of SCT-based nutrition education via WhatsApp on mothers' knowledge, self-efficacy, self-regulation, family support, and outcome expectations in improving children's dietary intake. A pre-post quasi-experimental design was used with 80 mothers of elementary school children in Kediri City. The intervention group (n=40) received WhatsApp-based nutrition education for 20 days, whereas the control group (n=40) received an e-booklet at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s test, Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. The results showed that WhatsApp-based nutrition education significantly improved knowledge (p=0,005) and outcome expectations (p=0,039) in the intervention group, whereas no significant effects were observed on self-efficacy and self-regulation. WhatsApp-based nutrition education effectively increased mothers' knowledge and outcome expectations. Future studies should consider the duration of the intervention, including follow-up assessment, refining educational media, combining educational methods, and considering additional SCT components.

Keywords : Behavioral determinants, knowledge, nutrition education, mothers, Social Cognitive Theory, WhatsApp

  1. Abd El Fatah, N., ElMessiery, M., & Awade, A. (2023). Effect of Mobile Based Educational Program through WhatsApp on Self-Efficacy and Psychological Distress among Female Geriatric Patients with breast cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy. International Egyptian Journal of Nursing Sciences and Research, 4(1), 328–351. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejnsr.2023.310070
  2. Ahmad, N., Shariff, Z. M., Mukhtar, F., & Lye, M.-S. (2018). Family-Based Intervention Using Face-To-Face Sessions and Social Media to Improve Malay Primary School Children’s Adiposity: A Randomized Controlled Field Trial of The Malaysian REDUCE Programme. Nutrition Journal, 17(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-018-0379-1
  3. Al-Jayyousi, G. F., & Myers-Bowman, K. S. (2022). Health-related maternal practices of immigrant Muslim mothers in the United States. Journal of Family Studies, 28(1), 108–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2019.1682644
  4. Al Rahmad, A. H., & Shavira, N. (2024). Media Motion Graphic Empat Pilar Gizi Seimbang Meningkatkan Pengetahuan Dan Sikap Ibu Balita. Jurnal Riset Gizi, 12(2), 183–189. https://doi.org/10.31983/jrg.v12i2.12087
  5. Anderson, E. S., Winett, R. A., & Wojcik, J. R. (2007). Self-regulation, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and social support: Social cognitive theory and nutrition behavior. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 34(3), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874555
  6. Arefi, Z., Sadeghi, R., Shojaeizadeh, D., Yaseri, M., & Shahbazi Sighaldeh, S. (2022). The effect of educational intervention on nutritional behavior in pregnant women based on social cognitive theory. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 35(25), 9724–9729. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2022.2050901
  7. Aulia, L., & Yuliati, L. N. (2018). Faktor Keluarga, Media, dan Teman dalam Pemilihan Makanan pada Mahasiswa PPKU IPB. Jurnal Ilmu Keluarga Dan Konsumen, 11(1), 37–48. https://doi.org/10.24156/jikk.2018.11.37
  8. Azhari, M. A., & Fayasari, A. (2020). Pengaruh edukasi gizi dengan media ceramah dan video animasi terhadap pengetahuan sikap dan perilaku sarapan serta konsumsi sayur buah. AcTion: Aceh Nutrition Journal, 5(1), 55. https://doi.org/10.30867/action.v5i1.203
  9. Azria, C. R., & Husnah. (2016). Pengaruh Penyuluhan Gizi Terhadap Pengetahuandan Perilaku Ibu Tentang Gizi Seimbang Balita Kota Banda Aceh. Jurnal Kedokteran Syiah Kuala, 16(2), 87–92.
  10. Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kesehatan. (2019). Laporan Riskesdas Provinsi Jawa Timur 2018. Lembaga Penerbit Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kesehatan.
  11. Badan Pusat Statistik. (2024). Keadaan Pekerja di Indonesia Februari 2024 (Badan Pusat Statistik (ed.); Volume 18). Badan Pusat Statistik.
  12. Carbonneau, N., Carbonneau, É., Dumas, A. A., Lavigne, G., & Guimond, F. A. (2023). Examining the associations between mothers’ motivation to regulate their own eating behaviors, food parenting practices and perceptions of their child’s food responsiveness. Appetite, 185(July 2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.106514
  13. D’Souza-Rushton, G., Long, J., Denmon, A., Kris-Etherton, P., Petersen, K., & Masterson, T. (2025). Nutrition Education “Shorts”: The Effect of Short-Form Media on Conveying Information About Improving Diet Quality. Nutrients, 17(10), 1612. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101612
  14. Delbosq, S., Velasco, V., Vercesi, C., & Vecchio, L. P. (2022). Adolescents’ Nutrition: The Role of Health Literacy, Family and Socio-Demographic Variables. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315719
  15. Folkvord, F., Roes, E., & Bevelander, K. (2020). Promoting healthy foods in the new digital era on Instagram: an experimental study on the effect of a popular real versus fictitious fit influencer on brand attitude and purchase intentions. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09779-y
  16. Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Health Behavior and Health Education Theory, Research, and Practice (Fourth Edi). Jossey-Bass.
  17. Global Web Index. (2019). Indonesia Market Snapshot. https://www.gwi.com/hubfs/Downloads/Indonesia_Market_Snapshot.pdf?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=290200780&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YtwToQqAMcN2F9I2R81XY2tn7cMHEBo9w2tFBH2uQo9d22idWOHAlpLN_9sc1U6lKkBTuS7TMTw68hV0CcpFoBHuKLA&utm_content=290200780&utm_source=hs_automation
  18. Keputusan Gubernur Jawa Timur Nomor 188/656/KPTS/013/2023 Tentang Upah Minimum Kabupaten/Kota di Jawa Timur Tahun 2024, Pub. L. No. 188/656/KPTS/013/2023, 3 (2023).
  19. Haryana, N. R. (2017). Dampak Intervensi Gizi Multikomponen pada Guru, Orang Tua dan Siswa Sekolah Dasar terhadap Perilaku Konsumsi Buah dan Sayur [Institut Pertanian Bogor].
  20. https://repository.ipb.ac.id/handle/123456789/91367
  21. Hastuti, A. P., Sukartini, T., Arief, Y. S., Nursalam, N., Roesardhyati, R., Kurniawan, A. W., & Suprawoto, D. N. (2024). Women’s empowerment based on self-regulated learning as mother’s ability to fulfill nutrition in stunted children. Medical Journal of Malaysia, 79(1), 28–33.
  22. Heryanda, M. F., & Khoiriyah, N. (2024). Effects of healthy eating patterns based nutrition education and providing structured suplementary feeding on improving the nutritional status of stunted children. AcTion: Aceh Nutrition Journal, 9(3), 512. https://doi.org/10.30867/action.v9i3.1749
  23. Hilliard, M. E., Riekert, K. A., Ockene, J. K., & Pbert, L. (2018). The Handbook of Health Behavior Change. In Encyclopedia of Public Health. Springer Publishing Company.
  24. Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. (2018). Laporan Riskesdas 2018 Kementrian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. In Laporan Nasional Riskesdas 2018 (Vol. 53, Issue 9, pp. 154–165). http://www.yankes.kemkes.go.id/assets/downloads/PMK No. 57 Tahun 2013 tentang PTRM.pdf
  25. Kementerian Pendidikan Kebudayaan Riset dan Teknologi Republik Indonesia. (2024). Lokasi Program Sekolah Penggerak. Https://Psp-Web.Pauddikdasmen.Kemdikbud.Go.Id/. https://psp-web.pauddikdasmen.kemdikbud.go.id/#/implementasi-psp
  26. Khomsan, A. (2021). Teknik Pengukuran Pengetahuan Gizi. IPB Press.
  27. Kusnandar, V. B. (2022). WhatsApp media sosial paling banyak digunakan masyarakat pada 2021. Databoks. https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2022/10/14/whatsapp-media-sosial-paling-banyak-digunakan-masyarakat-pada-2021
  28. Larsen, A. L., McArdle, J. J., Robertson, T., & Dunton, G. F. (2015). Nutrition self-efficacy is unidirectionally related to outcome expectations in children. Appetite, 84, 166–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.10.013
  29. Marx, C. L., & König, L. M. (2025). Comparing the Effectiveness of Animated Videos and Talking‐head Videos in Science Communication. British Journal of Health Psychology, 30(1), e12786. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12786
  30. Mohamad Pilus, F., Ahmad, N., Mohd Zulkefli, N. A., & Mohd Shukri, N. H. (2022). Effect of Face-to-Face and WhatsApp Communication of a Theory-Based Health Education Intervention on Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy (SeBF Intervention): Cluster Randomized Controlled Field Trial. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 10(9), e31996. https://doi.org/10.2196/31996
  31. Nabilah, I. (2021). Pengetahuan Pengasuhan, Maternal Self-Efficacy, Praktik Pengasuhan, Riwayat Kelahiran, dan Perkembangan Motorik Anak Usia Baduta (1-2 Tahun) [Institut Pertanian Bogor]. https://repository.ipb.ac.id/handle/123456789/108841
  32. Nadimin, Zakaria, & Arumwulandari, S. (2019). The Effect of Nutrition Education Through WhatsApp To the Nutritional Knowledge Of Mothers About Food Children Picky Eater. Urban Health, 2(1), 326–330. https://journal.poltekkes-mks.ac.id/ojs2/index.php/Prosiding/article/view/1398
  33. Nepper, M. J., & Chai, W. (2016). Parents’ Barriers and Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating among School-Age Children. Appetite, 103(2016 Aug 1), 157–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.04.012
  34. Nugraha, S. Y., Fatikhah, N., Wahyuni, S. T., & Saudah, N. (2019). Social Support Family to Increase Parenting Pattern to Prevent Stunting. Journal Of Nursing and Midwifery Science, 3(3), 122–126. http://ijnms.net/index.php/ijnms
  35. Pemjean, I., Hernández, P., Mediano, F., & Corvalán, C. (2024). How are Intra-Household Dynamics, Gender Roles and Time Availability Related To Food Access and Children’s Diet Quality During the Covid-19 Lockdown? Social Science & Medicine, 345(March 2024), 116661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116661
  36. Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia Nomor 25 tahun 2016 tentang Rencana Aksi Nasional Kesehatan Lanjut Usia Tahun 2016-2019, (2016).
  37. Prasetyo, Y. B., Permatasari, P., & Susanti, H. D. (2023). The Effect of Mothers’ Nutritional Education and Knowledge on Children’s Nutritional Status: a Systematic Review. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, 17(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40723-023-00114-7
  38. Quick, V., Golem, D., Alleman, G. P., Martin-Biggers, J., Worobey, J., & Byrd-Bredbenner, C. (2018). Moms and dads differ in their family food gatekeeper behaviors. Topics in Clinical Nutrition, 33(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1097/TIN.0000000000000127
  39. Reid, M., Worsley, A., & Mavondo, F. (2015). The obesogenic household: factors influencing dietary gatekeeper satisfication with family diet. Psychology & Marketing, 32(4), 544–557. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar
  40. Risti, K. N., Pamungkasari, E. P., & Suminah. (2021). Nutrition Knowledge and Healthy Food Choices After Participating in Online Nutrition Education in Overweight Adolescents. Proceedings of the International Conference on Health and Medical Sciences (AHMS 2020), 34(Ahms 2020), 46–49. https://doi.org/10.2991/ahsr.k.210127.011
  41. Schunk, D. H., & DiBenedetto, M. K. (2021). Chapter Four - Self-efficacy and human motivation. In A. J. B. T.-A. in M. S. Elliot (Ed.), Advances in Motivation Science (Vol. 8, pp. 153–179). Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.adms.2020.10.001
  42. Shaluhiyah, Z., Kusumawati, A., Indraswari, R., Widjanarko, B., & Husodo, B. T. (2020). Pengetahuan, sikap dan praktik ibu dalam pemberian makanan sehat keluarga di Kota Semarang. Jurnal Gizi Indonesia (The Indonesian Journal of Nutrition), 8(2), 92–101. https://doi.org/10.14710/jgi.8.2.92-101
  43. Wang, M., Guo, Y., Zhang, Y., Xie, S., Yu, Z., Luo, J., Zhang, D., Ming, Z., Li, X., & Yang, M. (2021). Promoting healthy lifestyle in Chinese college students: evaluation of a social media-based intervention applying the RE-AIM framework. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75(2), 335–344. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0643-2
  44. Weichselbaum, E., & Buttriss, J. L. (2014). Diet, nutrition and schoolchildren: An update. Nutrition Bulletin, 39(1), 9–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12071
  45. Yabancı, N., Kısaç, İ., & Karakuş, S. Ş. (2014). The Effects of Mother’s Nutritional Knowledge on Attitudes and Behaviors of Children about Nutrition. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116(5th World Conference on Educational Sciences), 4477–4481. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.970
  46. Youn, S., Palak, S., & and Dodoo, N. A. (2024). Engaging with Branded Content on Short-Video Sharing Apps: How Motivations Affect Attitude toward Branded Content, Brand Experience, and Relationship Quality. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 24(3), 215–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/15252019.2024.2325410

Open Access Copyright (c) 2025 Dzakiyyatul Fikrah 'Arifah, Yayuk Farida Baliwati, Ali Khomsan
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

AcTion: Aceh Nutrition Journal
Published by: Department of Nutrition at the Health Polytechnic of Aceh, Ministry of Health.
Soekarno-Hatta Street, No. 168. Health Polytechnic of Aceh, Aceh Besar, 23352. Telp/Fax: 0651 46126 / 0651 46121.
Website: https://gizipoltekkesaceh.ac.id/
E-mail: jurnal6121@gmail.com

e-issn: 2548-5741, p-issn: 2527-3310

All content is licensed under a: Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International License

View My Stats

Get a feed by atom here, RRS2 here and OAI Links here