Economic Factors that Impact Healthful Eating: HOPE Accounts for Women Circle Leaders' Experiences (2011)

Undergraduate: Robyn Levine

Faculty Advisor: Marci Campbell
Department: Nutrition

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This study explores economic facilitators and barriers to healthful eating for circle leaders in the HOPE Accounts for Women program. Eight African American (n=5) and American Indian (n=3) circle leaders from HOPE Accounts were recruited for this sub-study, and in-depth interviews were conducted each participant. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were coded and analyzed by hand and with Atlas.ti 6.0 using the constant comparative method. Results showed that economic facilitators of healthful eating include a reliance on social networks, an expanded perception of price to include costs associated with chronic disease management, and a desire to save money by eating less frequently at restaurants and fast food establishments. Economic barriers to healthful eating include a higher perceived cost of fresh and organic foods, time constraints due to work, and modification of food budget to pay for other expenses. The majority also indicated that appeal based on quality, taste, and health content interacts with cost to impact food purchasing decisions. All circle leaders described planning ahead as an important strategy for overcoming economic barriers to healthful eating. This study concludes that financial circumstances impact healthful eating, but that circle leaders tend to focus on strategies for overcoming economic barriers.