Perspectives of Black/African American and Hispanic Parents and Children Living in Under-Resourced Communities Regarding Factors That Influence Food Choices and Decisions: A Qualitative Investigation

Families living in under-resourced communities are at risk of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases. To develop effective interventions, it is important to identify parent and child perspectives of factors that influence food-related choices and decisions. This paper reports qualitative findings from a larger mixed method study investigating this topic. Hybrid thematic analysis was used to code and analyze the interviews. Family-generated photographs of factors influencing food choices were discussed during the interviews. Qualitative findings were organized by the socio-ecological model. Verbatim quotes and photographs were used to support themes. Thirty-six interviews were conducted (18 parents, 18 children). Findings from parents revealed personal (e.g., culture, beliefs, time), family (e.g., mother, child, father, health, finances, cohesiveness), environmental (e.g., availability, convenience, cost), and other (e.g., school food) factors influenced food choices. Similarly, child-reported influences were personal (e.g., preferences, beliefs, taste), family (e.g., mother, family encouragement, father, family time), social (e.g., school, friends), environmental (e.g., availability), and other (e.g., media, sports). The socio-ecological model provided a useful framework for identifying factors that influence food choices and decisions of families living in under-resourced communities. A deeper understanding of these factors could enhance both responsiveness and effectiveness of interventions to enhance diet and reduce obesity risk in families living in under-resourced communities.

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Developing Physical Activity Promotion Plans for Older Adults Who Live Alone with Low-income Based on Socio-ecological Model: A Mixed Method Study

Korean Journal of Sport Studies ◽

10.23949/kjpe.2019.03.58.2.15 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 58 (02) ◽

pp. 15-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kyung-O Kim

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Low Income ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Physical Activity Promotion ◽

Mixed Method Study ◽

Activity Promotion

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Papás Saludables, Niños Saludables: Perspectives From Hispanic Parents and Children in a Culturally Adapted Father-Focused Obesity Program

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.jneb.2020.11.006 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Oriana Perez ◽

Alicia Beltran ◽

Tasia Isbell ◽

Edgar Galdamez-Calderon ◽

Tom Baranowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hispanic Parents ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Culturally Adapted

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A Web-Based Interactive Tool to Reduce Childhood Obesity Risk in Urban Minority Youth: Usability Testing Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9747 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Sandra Verdaguer ◽

Katrina F Mateo ◽

Katarzyna Wyka ◽

Tracy A Dennis-Tiwary ◽

May May Leung

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Usability Testing ◽

Minority Youth ◽

Obesity Risk ◽

Web Based ◽

Black African ◽

Interactive Tool ◽

Urban Minority ◽

Field Notes ◽

The Web

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity is a serious public health issue among minority youth in the United States. Technology-enhanced approaches can be effective for promoting healthy behavior change. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the usability of prototypes of a Web-based interactive tool promoting healthy dietary behaviors to reduce childhood obesity risk in urban minority youth. The Web-based tool comprised a manga-style comic with interactive features (eg, sound effects, clickable pop-ups), tailored messaging, and goal setting, and was optimized for use on tablet devices. METHODS Latino and black/African American children ages 9 to 13 years were recruited to participate in two rounds of usability testing. A modified think-aloud method was utilized. Self-reported surveys and field notes were collected. Audio recordings and field notes from usability testing sessions were systematically reviewed by extracting and coding user feedback as either positive comments or usability or negative issues. The quantitative data from self-reported questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Twelve children (four female; eight black/African American) with a mean age of 10.92 (SD 1.16) years participated. Testing highlighted overall positive experiences with the Web-based interactive tool, especially related to storyline, sound effects, and color schemes. Specific usability issues were classified into six themes: appearance, content, special effects, storyline, terminology, and navigation. Changes to the Web-based tool after round 1 included adding a navigation guide, making clickable icons more visible, improving graphic designs, and fixing programming errors. In round 2 of testing (after modifications to the Web-based tool were incorporated), many of the usability issues that were identified in round 1 did not emerge. CONCLUSIONS Results of testing will inform further development and finalization of the tool, which will be tested using a two-group pilot randomized study, with the goal of reducing childhood obesity risk in minority, low-income youth.

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The ‘Voice’ of Key Stakeholders in a School Food and Drink Intervention in Two Secondary Schools in NE England: Findings from a Feasibility Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11112746 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2746 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

McSweeney ◽

Bradley ◽

Adamson ◽

Spence

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Food Choices ◽

Advisory Group ◽

School Food ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Key Stakeholders ◽

Limited Effectiveness ◽

Qualitative Component ◽

Food And Drink ◽

The Voice

Background: Overweight/obesity affects one-third of UK 11–15-year olds. Individually focussed interventions alone have limited effectiveness. Food choice architecture approaches increase the visibility and convenience of foods to facilitate the choice of ‘healthier’ foods and reduce ‘unhealthy’ foods. This qualitative component of a School Food Architecture (SFA) study aimed to determine the perceptions of pupils and staff in relation to school food provision and their perceptions of the intervention. Methods: Pupil focus groups and staff one-to-one interviews. Topic guides were developed from literature and in consultation with a Young Person’s Advisory Group. Thematic analysis was applied. Results: Focus group (n = 4) themes included: dining hall practices, determinants of choice, and aspects of health. Interview themes (n = 8) included: catering practices, health awareness, education, and knowledge of intervention. Pupils liked to purchase hand-held, quick to purchase foods potentially limiting the access to fruits and vegetables. Pupils were aware of ‘healthier’ food choices but would choose other options if available. Conclusions: Schools provide a daily school meal for large numbers of pupils, with time and dining environment constraints. Pupils consume 35–40% of their daily energy intake at school, therefore interventions enabling healthier eating in school are essential, including making healthier choices readily available and accessible.

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School lunches v. packed lunches: a comparison of secondary schools in England following the introduction of compulsory school food standards

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980013000852 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 1037-1042 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Lesley Stevens ◽

Jo Nicholas ◽

Lesley Wood ◽

Michael Nelson

Keyword(s):

Secondary Schools ◽

Food Choices ◽

School Lunches ◽

School Food ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Food Standards ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Food And Drink ◽

Average School ◽

Selection Of

AbstractObjectivesTo compare food choices and nutrient intakes of pupils taking a school lunch or a packed lunch in eighty secondary schools in England, following the introduction of the food-based and nutrient-based standards for school food.DesignCross-sectional data collected between October 2010 and April 2011. Pupils’ lunchtime food choices were recorded over five consecutive days.SettingSecondary schools, England.SubjectsA random selection of 5925 pupils having school lunches and 1805 pupils having a packed lunch in a nationally representative sample of eighty secondary schools in England.ResultsThe differences in the specific types of food and drink consumed by the two groups of pupils are typical of differences between a hot and cold meal. On average, school lunches as eaten contained significantly more energy, carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamin A, folate, Fe and Zn than packed lunches, and 8 % less Na.ConclusionsAlthough neither school lunches nor packed lunches provided the balance of nutrients required to meet the nutrient-based standards (based on about one-third of daily energy and nutrient requirements), school lunches generally had a healthier nutrient profile, with lower Na and percentage of energy from fat, and higher fibre and micronutrient content. These differences were greater than those reported prior to the introduction of compulsory standards for school lunches. In order to ensure more pupils have a healthy lunch, schools could introduce and enforce a packed lunch policy or make school meals the only option at lunchtime.

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Nutrition Discovery Photovoice Project: Using the Social Ecological Model to Understand Food Choices among First Year College Students

Journal of the American Dietetic Association ◽

10.1016/j.jada.2011.06.181 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 111 (9) ◽

pp. A51 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Tallant

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Food Choices ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

First Year ◽

First Year College ◽

Social Ecological ◽

The Social ◽

First Year College Students

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The influence of race on parental beliefs and concerns during an autism diagnosis: A mixed-method analysis

Autism ◽

10.1177/13623613211044345 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 136236132110443

Author(s):

Gazi Azad ◽

Calliope Holingue ◽

Danika Pfeiffer ◽

Emily Dillon ◽

Rachel Reetzke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

African American ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Social Communication ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Hispanic Children ◽

Parental Concern ◽

White Children ◽

Black African ◽

Children With Asd

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine racial differences in parental beliefs and concern about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus clinical judgment. The sample included 489 children with ASD undergoing their first ASD evaluation. Parent belief that their child had ASD was highest among parents of White children. White children whose parents believed the child had ASD had lower ASD severity. Parents of Black/African American and Hispanic children were more likely to report communication concerns than parents of White children. Parental concern about social communication was related to higher ASD severity for Hispanic children. Implications for diagnostic processes are discussed. Lay abstract The goal of this study was to examine if there were differences between races in parental concern and belief about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the perspectives of clinicians. We studied 489 children with ASD who were having their first evaluation at an ASD clinic. Parents of White children most often believed that their child had ASD. However, White children whose parents believed the child had ASD were less severe in their symptoms. Parents of Black/African American or Hispanic children were more likely to have concerns about communication than parents of White children. In Hispanic families, parental concern about social communication was related to more severe symptoms in children. We discuss the implications of our findings for diagnosis.

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Diet at Age 10 and 13 Years in Children Identified as Picky Eaters at Age 3 Years and in Children Who Are Persistent Picky Eaters in A Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11040807 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 807 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Caroline M Taylor ◽

Nicholas P Hays ◽

Pauline M Emmett

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Food Choices ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Picky Eating ◽

Effective Strategies ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Picky eating has been associated with lower intakes of some nutrients and foods during preschool ages but there is little known about the longer-term diet. The aim of this study was to characterise the diets of children aged 10 and 13 years who had been identified as: (1) picky eaters at age 3 years (cross-sectional); and (2) picky eaters at 2–5.5 years old (longitudinal). Picky eating behaviour (PE) was identified in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) from parental/caregiver questionnaires. Dietary intake was assessed at age 3.5 years and repeated at 10 and 13 years. For cross-sectional PE compared with non-PE there were differences at age 10 years that were similar to those at 3.5 years: lower intakes of protein (−5%) and fibre (−7%) and of meat (−15%), fruit (−10%) and vegetables (−33%). At 13 years, differences in vegetable (−23%), fruit (−14%) and meat (−8%) intakes were evident. For longitudinal (persistent) PE, differences were more pronounced at each age. More effective strategies to help parents to widen the food choices of their children at early ages need to be developed, focusing particularly on vegetable and fruit intakes.

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Relationships between children’s sugar consumption at home and their food choices and consumption at school lunch

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980019003458 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (16) ◽

pp. 2941-2949 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Khlood Baghlaf ◽

Vanessa Muirhead ◽

Cynthia Pine

Keyword(s):

Primary Schools ◽

School Lunch ◽

School Meals ◽

School Food ◽

High Sugar ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Food And Drink ◽

Purposive Sample ◽

Health Programmes ◽

At Home

AbstractObjective:To investigate the relationships between children’s food and drink choices at school lunch for children who consume high and low sugar intakes at home.Design:Children’s food and drink consumption at home was assessed using diet diaries over three consecutive days. Children were classified as ‘high’ or ‘low’ sugar consumers at home using the WHO recommendation that free sugars should be less than 10 % of their daily total energy intake. A purposive sample of children was then selected and observed during school lunch, recording food selections, food left on plates and content of packed lunches.Setting:Six primary schools in Newham and Kent, England.Participants:Parents and children aged 6–7 years.Results:Seventy-one parents completed diet diaries. From the seventy-one, thirty-nine children were observed during school lunch. Twenty children were high sugar consumers, nineteen children were low sugar consumers; thirty-one children had a school meal. Eleven of the fifteen children (73 %) who had school meals and who were high sugar consumers selected a high-sugar dessert rather than fruit. Only five of the sixteen (31 %) children who had school meals and were low sugar consumers at home chose a high-sugar dessert. Most of the children who had packed lunches had sweet items, despite school policies.Conclusions:Children who consumed high sugar intake at home tended to select foods high in sugar for school meals or had packed lunches containing high-sugar foods. The implications for public health programmes include healthy eating workshops and implementing school food policies.

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