Persepsi Remaja terhadap Perilaku Konsumsi Sayur dan Buah-buahan sebagai Nutrisi Pendukung Kesehatan Otak pada Siswa SMP Negeri 10 Kota Tangerang Selatan

Abstract

Adolescent brain health is strongly influenced by nutritional intake, particularly vegetables and fruits. The 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) reported that 96.7% of the population aged ≥5 years had not met the recommended minimum of 5 servings of vegetables and fruits per day. This study aims to explore the perceptions of students at SMP Negeri 10 Kota Tangerang Selatan regarding the consumption of vegetables and fruits as supporting nutrition for brain health, including factors shaping perceptions, personal experiences, and the role of family and school. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed through in-depth interviews with 8 key informants (students aged 14–15 years from class VIII.1) and 4 supporting informants (a science teacher, a counseling/UKS teacher, and two parents). Data were analyzed using NVivo, with validity ensured through source triangulation and member checking. All informants expressed positive perceptions of the benefits of vegetables and fruits for physical health and learning concentration; however, their understanding of the specific relationship with brain health remained limited. These perceptions were shaped by physical and social environments, learning processes, and information sources, and reinforced by personal experience and family-school support. Adolescents' perceptions are formed through dynamic interaction between environmental factors, personal experience, and the reinforcing role of family and school. Therefore, more specific education on brain health is needed.