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Household Food Security and Produce Intake and Behaviors of Adult Mothers Living on Prince Edward Island and Using Family Resource Center Services

Smith, Elizabeth A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1408636179

Abstract Details

, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Food and Nutrition Sciences (Health Sciences and Professions).
Prince Edward Island is characterized by low household food security compared to other Provinces, especially among female lone parents. Low produce intake may be linked to chronic disease and has been associated with household food insecurity. This study examined differences in produce intake by food security status of adult mothers aged 18 and older with young children living on Prince Edward Island and using Family Resource Centre services. The main instrument used in this investigation was the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM), a produce intake and behavior-related instrument. The USDA HFSSM was scored using Canadian methods. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. SPSS software was used to tabulate data, and, using SPSS, an ANOVA was used to assess for differences in produce intake among food security groups. Participants (n = 282) were primarily White (n = 262, 92.9%) and married (n = 164, 58.2%). Age ranged from 18-53 years (30 ± 5 years, n = 280). Regarding household adult food security of participants (n = 281), 197 (70.1%) experienced food security during the previous 12 months, while 84 (29.8%) experienced food insecurity (food insecure, moderate [n = 46, 16.4%]; food insecure, severe [n = 38, 13.5%]). Total produce (p < .001), fruit (p < .001), and vegetable (p = .001) differed by household food security; mothers who experienced severe food insecurity consumed less total produce than food secure or food insecure (moderate) mothers by 1.8 and 1.3 servings daily, respectively. In summary, mothers of young children living on Prince Edward Island who experienced severe food insecurity had lower produce intake compared to other mothers. Further exploration of programs and services to improve food insecurity among these mothers is warranted.
David Holben (Advisor)
Deborah Murrary (Committee Member)
Michele Morrone (Committee Member)
Nutrition
food insecurity; Prince Edward Island; food insecure mothers; fruit and vegetable intake; food-related behaviors

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, E. A. (2014). Household Food Security and Produce Intake and Behaviors of Adult Mothers Living on Prince Edward Island and Using Family Resource Center Services [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1408636179

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Elizabeth. Household Food Security and Produce Intake and Behaviors of Adult Mothers Living on Prince Edward Island and Using Family Resource Center Services. 2014. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1408636179.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Elizabeth. "Household Food Security and Produce Intake and Behaviors of Adult Mothers Living on Prince Edward Island and Using Family Resource Center Services." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1408636179

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1408636179
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.