Background
In 2019, the Society of Nutrition Education and Behavior recommitted to representing the growing demographic of older adults. One metric to assess this commitment may be an equitable representation of articles published in the Society's journal.
Objective
The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the historic representation of the older adult life stage in articles published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB).
Study Design, Setting, Participants
Research, research briefs, and report articles published in JNEB from 1969 to December 2020 were examined to determine the targeted life stage, including older adults (>65 years), adults, young adults (college-age), and infants, children and adolescents. Articles, in which older adults were included as part of a greater population, were also quantified. An “other” category included articles that did not target or state a life stage.
Measurable Outcomes/Analysis
The percentage of research articles, research briefs and reports targeting the older adult life stage published in JNEB.
Results
Of the 2,454 articles reviewed, 39% of research articles, 51% of research briefs, and 29% of reports targeted infants, children and adolescents. Articles specifically addressing older adults had the least representation and included only 4% of research articles, 3% of research briefs, and 4% of reports. Older adults as part of a greater population, were represented by 8% of research articles, 9% of research briefs, and 5% of reports. Of note, 37% of articles fell into the “other” category.
Conclusion
Historically, the older adult life stage is underrepresented in articles published in JNEB. Given the Society's recent resolution to increase the focus on the educational needs of a growing aging population, an increase in journal publications targeting older adults is warranted, and thus equitably represent all life stages in future issues.
Funding
Appendix. Supplementary data
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.
