n a 3 to 4-page essay, brieflydescribe and then critically analyzeall of the following components of the study:
- What is the research problem? Another way to think about this is: Why was this study conducted?
- What is/are the hypothesis/hypotheses stated by the author(s)? If not stated directly, what does the hypothesis appear to be?
A.Who were the study participants? How many were there and how were they recruited?B.What were the inclusion/exclusion criteria for selecting the participants?
- What was the study design?
- What were the main study results?
- Did the results support the authors’ hypothesis/hypotheses? Why or why not?
- What was/were the limitation(s) and strength(s) discussed by the author(s)? These are usually in the Discussion/Conclusion section of the article. Were there any additional strengths and weaknesses not discussed by the author(s)? If so, discuss with a professional critique and do not use overly personal opinion-based judgements.A.What conclusion(s) did the author(s) make?B.How can the research findings be applied? If no applications were suggested by the authors, provide ideas for how the findings could be applied.C.Based on this study and past research discussed in the Introduction, what directions should researchers take for future study of this topic?
Barriers to Accessing Healthy Food and Food Assistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Racial Justice Uprisings: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Emerging Adults' Experiences The Continuing Professional Education (CPE) quiz for this article is available for free to Academy members through the MyCDRGo app (available for iOS and Android devices) and through www.jandonline.org (click on “CPE” in the menu and then “Academy Journal CPE Articles”). Log in with your Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or Commission on Dietetic Registration username and password, click “Journal Article Quiz” on the next page, then click the “Additional Journal CPE quizzes” button to view a list of available quizzes. Non-members may take CPE quizzes by sending a request to journal@ eatright.org. There is a $45 fee per quiz (includes quiz and copy of article) for non-members. CPE quizzes are valid for 3 years after the issue date in which the articles are published. ª 2021 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. J RESEARCH Original Research Barriers to Accessing Healthy Food and Food Assistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Racial Justice Uprisings: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Emerging Adults’ Experiences Nicole Larson, PhD, MPH, RDN; Tricia Alexander; Jaime C. Slaughter-Acey, PhD, MPH; Jerica Berge, PhD, MPH; Rachel Widome, PhD, MHS; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, RD ARTICLE INFORMATION Article history: Submitted 3 February 2021 Accepted 12 May 2021 Keywords: Food insecurity Eating behavior Food access Food assistance Emerging adults 2212-2672/Copyright ª 2021 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.05.018 ABSTRACT Background A steep rise in food insecurity is among the most pressing US public health problems that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective This study aimed to (1) describe how food-insecure emerging adults are adapting their eating and child-feeding behaviors during COVID-19 and (2) identify barriers and opportunities to improve local food access and access to food assistance. Design The COVID-19 Eating and Activity Over Time study collected survey data from emerging adults during April to October 2020 and completed interviews with a diverse subset of food-insecure respondents. Participants/setting A total of 720 emerging adults (mean age: 24.7 � 2.0 years; 62% female; 90% living in Minnesota) completed an online survey, and a predominately female subsample (n ¼ 33) completed an interview by telephone or videoconference. Main outcome measures Survey measures included the short-form of the US Household Food Security Survey Module and 2 items to assess food insufficiency. In- terviews assessed eating and feeding behaviors along with barriers to healthy food access. Analyses performed Descriptive statistics and a hybrid deductive and inductive con- tent analysis. Results Nearly one-third of survey respondents had experienced food insecurity in the past year. Interviews with food-insecure participants identified 6 themes with regard to changes in eating and feeding behavior (eg, more processed food, sporadic eating), 5 themes regarding local food access barriers (eg, limited enforcement of COVID-19 safety practices, experiencing discrimination), and 4 themes regarding barriers to accessing food assistance (eg, lack of eligibility, difficulty in locating pantries). Identified recom- mendations include (1) expanding the distribution of information about food pantries and meal distribution sites, and (2) increasing fresh fruit and vegetable offerings at these sites. Conclusions Interventions of specific relevance to COVID-19 (eg, stronger imple- mentation of safety practices) and expanded food assistance services are needed to improve the accessibility of healthy food for emerging adults. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021;121(9):1679-1694. T HE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS AN ONGOING PUBLIC health crisis. In the United States, this crisis led to a surge in unemployment and has placed unprece- dented strain on the food system.1 The resulting rise in food insecurity is disproportionately impacting Black people, Indigenous people, and persons of color across the nation.2-4 This disparity stems from the entrenched public health crisis of racismand is exacerbating existing health inequities.5,6 Both public health crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and all forms of racism,must be addressed to equitably respond to the growing OURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS 1679 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.05.018 http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1016/j.jand.2021.05.018&domain=pdf https://secure.eatright.org/v14pgmlib/prd/jcpe010.html http://www.jandonline.org mailto:journal@eatright.org mailto:journal@eatright.org RESEARCH SNAPSHOT Research Question: How are food-insecure emerging adults adapting their eating behaviors during COVID-19? What are barriers and opportunities to improve local food access and the accessibility of food assistance services? Key Findings: Interviews identified various themes with regard to changes in at-home eating and feeding behavior (eg, more processed food, sporadic eating), local food access barriers (eg, limited enforcement of COVID-19 safety practices, experiencing discrimination), and accessing food assistance (eg, lack of eligibility, difficulty locating pantries). Identified recommendations include (1) expanding the distribution of information about food pantries and meal programs, and (2) increasing fresh fruit and vegetable offerings. RESEARCH problem of food insecurity. It is of urgent importance that rich information be gathered on the condition of food insecurity during the pandemic so that federal and local policies and programs can be responsive to the intersection of these and future public health crises. The life stage of emerging adult- hood (18-29 years) is a time of particular vulnerability for experiencing food insecurity and its impacts on health, including increased risk for elevated blood pressure and pre- diabetes.7-9 Emerging adulthood is also a life stage when young people may begin providing meals for children of their own10,11 and accordingly, the influence of food insecurity on the feeding behaviors of emerging adults has the potential to impact the health of the next generation. Research conducted in the United States during the initial months of the COVID-19 outbreak has documented a high, increased prevalence of food insecurity among emerging adult populations and the many challenges they have faced in accessing adequate food resources.2,12-14 For example, a rapid response survey of the Eating and Activity over Time (EAT 2010-2018) studycohortwas conducted by Larson et al12 in the spring of 2020 and found thatmore than 1 in 4 of the emerging adult participants had recently experienced food insecurity; theprevalencewasnearly 1 in 3 among thosewho identified as Black or African American and 46% among those who were parents of their own children. The food-insecure participants in this ethnically and racially diverse cohort identified several needs, including eligibility for a larger amount of food assis- tance benefits, having food delivery or pickup options, and access tomore food at foodpantries.12 Furthermore, the results of the spring 2020 study showed that being treated with less respect or courtesy than other people, being threatened or harassed, and experiencing interpersonal racism in the past month were more often reported by emerging adults who were food insecure.12 These results were based on surveys completed prior to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the racial justice uprisings that subsequently impacted food access for many emerging adult participants in the study cohort.15 The many problems highlighted by the spring 2020 study by Larson et al12 and the uprisings are complex and indicate the need for more in-depth research on lived experiences of food insecurity to inform public health strategies for emerging adult populations and subgroups at increased risk (ie, parents, persons who identify their race as Black or African American). The current study was designed to build on prior research by describing the prevalence of food insecurity among a diverse sample of emerging adults and the experiences of those who were food insecure in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice uprisings. Aims of the study were to (1) examine how food-insecure emerging adults are adapting their eating and how those who are parents may also be adapting their child-feeding behaviors during COVID- 19 and (2) identify barriers to food access and opportunities to improve local access and the accessibility of food assis- tance resources for emerging adults. METHODS Study Design and Sample The C-EAT (COVID-19 Eating and Activity over Time) study was designed to build understanding of resources needed by emerging adults to support their weight-related health and 1680 JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.12,16 Participants in both waves of the EAT 2010-2018 longitudi- nal study (n¼ 1568 participated in 2009-2010 and 2017-2018) were invited to complete a C-EAT survey in 2020 and a selected sample of survey respondents who reported a recent experience of household food insecurity (n ¼ 81) were also invited to complete an in-depth interview. C-EAT surveys were completed online by 46% of the cohort sample (n ¼ 720) during the months of April to October 2020. Although C-EAT survey participants were less likely than 2018 survey partic- ipants to identify as male, identify their race as African American or Black, and have a parent of lower socioeconomic status (SES), the respondents in 2020 were of diverse back- grounds. Interviews were completed with a food-insecure subsample (n ¼ 33) by telephone or videoconference to ensure the safety of participants during the ongoing pandemic. All interviews were completed during the months of July to October 2020 and accordingly also occurred in the context of racial justice uprisings in the neighborhoods where participants were living.15 C-EAT study participants were middle school or high school students in Minneapolis and St Paul when they participated in the baseline EAT 2010 survey, and 90% of C-EAT survey participants were still living in Minnesota during the pandemic.7,17,18 E-mail and text mes- sage invitations and up to 5 reminders were sent to encourage participation in the C-EAT survey. Similarly, invitations to participate in the interview portion of the study were sent by e-mail and up to 2 reminders were sent by e-mail and text message. All participants were mailed a financial incentive following survey completion, and those who completed an interview were provided with additional compensation for their time. The University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board Human Subjects Committee approved all protocols. Past year experiences of food insecurity were identified by C-EAT survey participants in response to the 6-item US Household Food Security Survey Module.19 Reports of expe- riencing food insecurity (defined as lacking dependable ac- cess to adequate food for active, healthy living) were used in combination with C-EAT survey data on past month experi- ences of food insufficiency (defined by having eaten less than you felt you should and having been hungry because of lack of money to buy food) and parental status to identify September 2021 Volume 121 Number 9 RESEARCH potential interview participants.7,12 Invitations to participate in the interviews were sent out in batches of 10 to ensure approximately equal participation of food-insecure parents and emerging adults who were not living with children of their own; emerging adults who had recently experienced food insufficiency between April and October 2020 were prioritized for recruitment. Interview invitations stated the purpose of the study was to learn about food access chal- lenges that young people are experiencing and how food assistance programs and services could be improved. A semistructured interview script was developed by a multi- disciplinary group of experts in emerging adult health, pilo- ted by the team of emerging adult interviewers, and refined � How has COVID-19 affected your own eating habits? How d situation have led to these changes in your eating habits? � What sorts of challenges have you experienced in getting e months since March 2020? What sorts of challenges have � Please tell