Date of Award

Winter 3-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Food Science

First Advisor

Simone Camel

Abstract

Obesity is a prominent risk factor for chronic disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity and chronic disease rates continue to rise, requiring a need for prevention and intervention efforts. The future role of dietetics is to provide treatment and prevention through holistic approaches, by understanding individuals’ habits that contribute to the onset of disease, specifically their food choices, grocery shopping methods, and influences that waver these selections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between grocery shopping methods (online or in-store), Mediterranean diet adherence, nutrition knowledge, and food purchase patterns in employed primary food shoppers in households with children. Mediterranean diet adherence and nutrition knowledge have both been found to improve health outcomes. This study specifically aims to evaluate the association of grocery shopping methods against these variables as online grocery shopping use has dramatically increased since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, and as convenience and workcentric lifestyles have become more prominent in the United States. The study utilized a cross-sectional, exploratory online survey design. Participants were recruited as a convenience sample via snowball sampling. The questionnaire was designed and distributed using Qualtrics Survey Software and included only those who resided in the United States, were employed with children aged < 18 years in the home, and were the primary shopper for the household. Statistical analyses were calculated using frequencies and central tendencies, correlations, T-tests, and analysis of variance. The sample (n = 241) was primarily female (93.4%), White, non-Hispanic (66.4%), and resided in the state of Louisiana (59.8%). The sample had an average age of 38.22 years, worked 39.94 hours/week, and had approximately 2 adults and 2 children < 18 years in the household. Most of the sample had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet principles (47.9%), and the average General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire- Revised (GNKQ-R) score was 41.25. Primarily online shoppers shopped for groceries less frequently than in-store shoppers (M = 1.53, SD = 0.86; M =2.01, SD = 1.27, respectively). Nutrition knowledge increased as age increased (r =0.36, p < 0.001), but decreased as prepared meal item purchases increased (r =-0.18, p = 0.02). As hours worked per week increased, grocery cost/month increased (r =-0.21, p = 0.02). Diet adherence, prepared meal purchases, and grocery cost per household member did not significantly differ between in-store shoppers (M = 6.26, SD = 2.25, M = 1.42, SD = 1.37, M = 193.61, SD = 81.63) and online shoppers (M = 6.22, SD = 2.38, M = 1.63, SD = 1.40, M = 169.31, SD = 63.14), t (213) = 0.12, p = 0.26, t (239) = -1.13, p = 0.74), t (95) = 1.57, p = 0.36, respectively. There was a nonsignificant correlation of .11 (p = 0.15), 0.04 (p = 0.70), -0.06 (p = 0.37) between diet adherence and nutrition knowledge, grocery cost per household member, and prepared meals purchased, respectively. Nutrition knowledge scores were significantly higher among those not enrolled in nutrition assistance programs compared to those enrolled (M = 42.48, SD = 8.55; M = 31.70, SD = 16.64, respectively), non-rural residents compared to rural residents (M = 43.15, SD = 8.00; M = 36.27, SD = 14.30, respectively), and online shoppers compared to in-store shoppers (M = 42.39, SD = 8.93; M = 40.42, SD = 11.37, respectively). The study found no difference in grocery shopping method among households based on the presence and number of children and adults. However, primarily in-store shoppers worked more hours worked per week compared to online. In-store shoppers scored significantly lower nutrition knowledge scores than online shoppers, but there was no difference between grocery shopping method and prepared meal item purchases, adherence to Mediterranean diet principles, and grocery cost per household member. Though there was no significant finding, on average in-store shoppers spent roughly $25 more per person each month. There was no association between adherence to Mediterranean diet principles and nutrition knowledge, prepared meal item purchases, or food cost per household member. Further research is required to determine the relationship between grocery shopping method, diet adherence, nutrition knowledge, and patterns of purchases.

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