Examining Dietary Acculturation in Hispanic Males Residing in South Mississippi

This study explored dietary behavior in terms of dietary intake, dietary intake change and dietary contributing factors in a sample of Hispanic males residing in southern Mississippi that are at various stages of the acculturation process. Grounded theory and the bidimensional acculturation model were incorporated to identify the dietary factors and assess acculturation in each participant. Qualitative and quantitative measures were used in data collection. Qualitative measurements included Semistructured interviews, a focus group, and photovoice with group interviews. The ARSMA-II, Marginality Scale, Fruit/Vegetable and Fat Food Screeners, a psychosocial dietary questionnaire, and the New Vital Signs Food Label for Health Literacy were quantitative instruments used to examine acculturation and dietary behavior. All interviews and questionnaires were interviewer-administered in either Spanish or English as specified by the participant. Grounded theory drove the data analysis. First, the ARSMA-II and Marginality scale scores were determined for each participant, and each participant was placed into one of four bidimensional acculturation groups. Second, three trained qualitative coders, used open, axial, and selective coding to extract codes, identify themes and main themes, draw connections between themes and identify and define core categories. Ill-defined and unclear themes were identified during this process, leading to the photovoice and group interviews which were used to clarify ill-defined themes. Constant comparison was used to incorporate the quantitative data into the qualitative data findings and compare data across groups. Dietary patterns and contributing factors for each acculturation group were identified and compared across groups, and a dietary acculturation conceptual framework was proposed. Information gained can be used to inform nutrition practice and nutrition intervention development relevant to Hispanic males

The Feasibility of Using the Super Tracker Website for Behavior Changes in the Adolescent Population

Research suggests technology such as health websites may be a viable way to effect lifestyle behavior and promote health. Several websites utilize self-monitoring of physical activity and diet as well as provide health-related education as a method to impact behavior. One such site is the Super Tracker tool on ChooseMyPlate.gov, created by the United States Department of Health. The site was created to encourage healthy diet and physical activity within the US population. Therefore, the aim of this original research was to examine the acceptability and feasibility outcomes of a self-monitoring physical activity intervention delivered by the Super Tracker website among inner city adolescents. A total of 26 students volunteered for this feasibility study. The website incorporates goal setting, self-monitoring of physical and dietary activity. Focus groups were conducted to assess the participants’ perceptions of the intervention and the application performance. Results suggested that the website intervention was feasible and acceptable to adolescents and may be utilized as an integral part in behavioral interventions for this specific population

Exploring the Connection Between Community Food Security Initiatives and Social-Cognitive Factors on Dietary Intake

Food insecurity and poor dietary consumption continue to impact low-income populations in the U.S. However, communities are developing ways to address it at the local level. Community Food Security Initiatives (CFSI) focus on increasing a sustainable, healthy food supply and food system while addressing food insecurity and dietary quality within a community. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) explore CFSIs in low-income areas in a metropolitan Midwest city and (2) examine the effects of the initiatives along with other social-cognitive factors on fruit and vegetable consumption in persons participating in local CFSIs. This was a mixed-methods study. First, seven representatives from different CFSIs were interviewed, and factors regarding initiative success were identified. Secondly, a group of 128 community members made up of both CFSI participants and non-CFSI participants completed questionnaires assessing fruit and vegetable intake, dietary-related social cognitive behavior, and socio-demographics. Several themes emerged from the interviews with the CFSI representatives including challenges, resources, and benefits in developing and sustaining an initiative. A multiple regression analysis was utilized to explain fruit and vegetable behavior across CFSI participation and dietary-related social-cognitive factors, controlling for education and income. The analysis showed that dietary-related social-cognitive factors, not CFSI participation, were an independent predictor of fruit and vegetable intake. In conclusion, CFSIs may increase food access within a local food system but may have a minimal impact on dietary behavior overall. CFSIs may need to reexamine their operations and identify ways to address not only food access but other social factors such as community empowerment and individual psychosocial factors relating to dietary behavior

Development and implementation of an evaluation tool for measuring Cultural Competency learning activities in Health and Sport Science undergraduate students

Due to the diversity within the healthcare system, it is important to promote cultural competency in healthcare providers. The integration of pedagogical approaches to cultural competency into health-related programs cannot be understated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to examine the student engagement in cultural competency-related activities within health-related degree programs and determine the relationship between engagement and cultural competency. Participants of the study included first- and fourth-year undergraduate students studying within a health-related program at a mid-sized, private university in the Midwestern US. Participants completed a cultural competency inventory questionnaire which included activities identified from prior studies that facilitated cultural competency learning. They also completed The Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence For Healthcare Professionals -Student Version (IAPCC-SV, 2009); a measure of cultural competency. Using the exploratory factor analysis, the Cultural Learning Inventory (CLI) indicated a 4-factor construct with adequate construct detection. Overall, three of the four CLI constructs were positively associated with overall cultural competency. Further, first-year students had lower CLI and cultural competency scores compared to fourth year students. In conclusion, promoting learning activities and programs can positively impact future cultural competency in health-related professionals

Mitigating Toxic Stress in At-Risk Youth through an Agriculture-Based After School Program

Adverse childhood experiences and accompanying toxic stress have negative impacts on children Of particular interest then is identifying strategies that could help at-risk youth mitigate the impacts of toxic stress Using a phenomenology based qualitatively dominant research approach this study explores dynamics of toxic stress in at-risk youth and how the On The Rise program an agricultural-based after school program for at-risk youth addresses toxic stres

Translating MyPlate into Food Selections that Meet Dietary Guidelines Recommendations

The objective was to determine if individuals could plan a diet that met the Dietary Guidelines (DG) using MyPlate as a guide. Participants (n=73) were 38.9±17.0 years of age, with 97% being Non-Hispanic White, 95% having some college education, and Body Mass Index (BMI) of 26.7±5.9. Participants used MyPlate to plan a one-day menu using food models. Nutrition literacy, nutrition scanning behavior, and nutrition information-seeking experience were assessed. Menus were analyzed using Nutrition Data Systems for Research and were compared to individualized DG recommendations. A multiple linear regression examined what characteristics predicted energy difference scores (difference between energy from menu and DG). Participant menus were lower in energy, grains, and dairy; and higher in fruits and vegetables than DGs (p \u3c 0.001). The regression model was significant (R2 = 0.24; p \u3c 0.01) with sex (B = -386.92; p \u3c 0.05), BMI (B = 29.29; p \u3c 0.05) with nutrition information-seeking experience (B = 44.90; p \u3c 0.05) predicting energy difference score. Being male, having a higher BMI, and experiencing more frustration during nutrition informationseeking were associated with higher energy difference scores. It was challenging for this sample of well-educated individuals to make food selections that met the DGs

Dietetic Student Involvement in a Sports Nutrition Education Program for University Athletes

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a sports nutrition counseling experiential learning opportunity on self-efficacy and nutrition counseling skills in the undergraduate dietetic students and dietary goal adherence in collegiate athlete clients after receiving the student-led nutrition counseling intervention. Methods: This mixed methods design, using a thematic analysis and pre- and post-testing, was implemented at a mid-sized university in the Midwestern United States. There were fifteen undergraduate dietetic students and nine collegiate athletes. Results: Counseling confidence in the dietetic students improved significantly from session one to session three (p \u3c 0.001). Conclusions and Implications: Similar programs can be implemented in undergraduate dietetic programs within the academic setting to provide a valuable nutrition resource for collegiate athletes and experience for dietetic students. Examining the program with a larger population can allow for analysis of a causal relationship between the intervention and measured outcomes

Perspectives on the Development of a Local Food System: The Case of Dayton, Ohio

Multiple sectors play vital roles in a community’s development and maintenance of a sustainable local food system. This study explored the perceptions of twenty-two representatives from the civil society, public, and private sectors in Dayton, Ohio, about the development of the region’s local food system. The researchers employed grounded theory methodology for data collection and analysis. Core themes from the participants of each sector group emerged from the data and areas of convergence and divergence among groups were reported

An Exploration of Dietary Acculturation in Hispanic Males Residing in Mississippi

The purpose of this research was to explore dietary acculturation in Hispanic males in the context of the Operant Theory of Acculturation. This was a qualitative study using grounded theory to guide methodological procedures. Semi-structured interviews, a focus group, the Acculturation-Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans-II and the Marginality Scale, and photovoice with follow-up interviews were used to explore dietary acculturation in the participant sample. Thirty-five first- and second-generation Hispanic males residing in Mississippi were recruited and categorized into one of three different bidimensional acculturation groups as determined by the Acculturation-Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans-II and the Marginality Scale. Main dietary influencing themes identified were intrapersonal and environmental dietary factors. The subthemes included values, attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and preference for the intrapersonal factors and availability; living structure; accessibility; food preparation skill; and time for the environmental factors. The factors are not mutually exclusive and show the complexity of the dietary acculturation process. This research can be used to guide future research and inform nutrition intervention development for this population