Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Cheryl Anderson

Abstract

Women are responsible for preparing family meals in 71% of American households. The meal choices that women make has an impact on lifestyle choices for themselves and their family. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the extent to which food advertisements and access to primary care influence a woman’s food-making choices. The first question focused on how exposure to food advertisements on television may impact the food choices of women. The second question asked how food advertisements affect women’s eating habits. The third question asked how access to primary care impacts food decisions. The theoretical framework integrated the social cognitive theory and cognitive load theory. Quantitative data were collected online with a meal pattern questionnaire. Participants were women with children under the age of 18 in their home (n = 125) who have primary responsibility for food provision/preparation, were born in the United States, live along the east coast, had a high school education or higher, and have a television. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. The results for Research Question 1 (RQ1) showed a statistically significant association of the outcome variable with women’s age and employment status. For Research Question 2 (RQ2), only one variable “Household food decision based on a food advertisement you saw” was statistically significant. None of the variables in Research Question 3 (RQ3) were statistically significant. The implications for positive social change are that effectiveness of nutritional recommendations for healthier food choices may be enhanced in socially disadvantaged communities, through food advertisements.

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