Delores, J. \"Factors Influencing Food

Delores, J. "Factors influencing food choices, dietary intake, and nutrition-related

attitudes among African-Americans: Application of a culturally sensitive model."

Ethnicity & Health, Vol. 9, No. 4 (2004): 349-367.

Purpose, Design, and Theoretical Approach

The primary purpose of the study detailed in the reviewed article was to identify the specific ways that culture and community affect the nutritional habits and choices of individuals. The other purpose of the study was to identify specific segments of the population studied that might be amenable to education about nutrition and to the effective promotion of healthful nutritional choices. More specifically, the study focused on the African-American community in north central Florida and the research design utilized a series of six focus groups comprising both male and female African-Americans. It employed a theoretical model (PEN-3) that emphasizes culture as the principal determinant of health-related behavior in relation to health promotion and disease prevention programs.

Results and Conclusions

The results of the study indicated that cultural perspective is a significant influence on the behavioral choices of individuals as pertains to nutritional choices. More specifically, the study determined that cultural identity and perspective played significant roles in shaping the relative degree of receptivity of individuals to behavioral changes in the area of improving the healthfulness of nutritional choices. The specific findings included the fact that making changes to improve nutritional choices are seen as conflicting with those elements of culture and heritage and as requiring individuals to give up foods with very specific cultural significance and symbolism.

Likewise, there was a perception that making changes to improve nutritional quality represented an adoption of the habits of the mainstream dominant societal culture and an abandonment of traditional ways of eating. The study also determined that individuals making such changes could not count on support from friends or relatives and that other barriers to adopting better nutritional practices included the absence of any perceived urgency, and the greater cost and worse taste of foods considered more healthful.

In terms of identifying specific segments of the population studied that might benefit from efforts to increase nutritional knowledge and improve nutritional choices, the study determined that young adults, adult women, men with health problems, all individuals with life-threatening health problems, and the elderly might be encouraged to make better nutritional choices with easier access to nutritional information. Finally, the study suggested that viable approaches for distributing nutritional information to these sub-groups included utilizing churches, neighborhood grocery stores, and local restaurants for that purpose.

Applying the Results to Practice