Correlates for Healthful Snacking among Middle-income Midwestern Women
Abstract
Objective
To assess snacking patterns, self-efficacy, barriers, stage of change, and awareness of healthful snacks among middle-income midwestern women.
Design
Self-administered questionnaire.
Setting
An urban church.
Participants
Convenience sample of 56 women, mean age 43.9 years and mean body mass index (BMI) 25.9 kg/m2.
Main Outcome Measures
A snack quality index (SQI) assessed healthfulness of snack choices; subscales identified self-efficacy and barriers; and a test measured knowledge of healthful snacks.
Analysis
SQI scores were based on energy density and frequency of consumption. Correlations identified associations between SQI scores and self-efficacy and barriers. Analysis of variance identified significant differences between subscale scores for self-efficacy and barriers. Statistical significance was P < .05.
Results
The mean SQI score was 64.9%. Participants felt least confident to choose healthful snacks when experiencing negative emotions, and the most important barrier to healthful snacking was an unfavorable taste perception. The majority of the women (86%) were in the pre-action and 14% in the action stages of change for healthful snacking. The mean score on the snack knowledge test was 84.2%.
Conclusions and Implications
These women need information concerning snacks high in fiber and low in trans fat, and interventions for enhancing self-confidence for healthful snack selection under challenging circumstances and for overcoming barriers.
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2Department of Dietetics, Hospitality Management, and Fashion Merchandising, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
3Academic Computing Center, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Address for correspondence: Laura H. McArthur, PhD, RD, Department of Dietetics, Hospitality Management, and Fashion Merchandising, Room 228 Knoblauch Hall, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455; Phone: (309) 298-1007
At the time this snacking study was in progress, Ms. Johanna M. Schunk was a graduate student living in Indianapolis, IN, and working on her MS degree in nutrition from East Carolina University. This research was the independent study she conducted as part of her graduate degree work.
ABSTRACT