Nutrition Security Beyond Food Access: Understanding the Impact of Environmental and Psychosocial Factors on Diet Quality

A new studyopens in new tab/window in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavioropens in new tab/window, published by Elsevier, highlights critical constructs essential for addressing dietary inequalities and promoting overall health. Researchers noted key environmental and psychosocial factors critical to improving diet quality. These factors include access to healthy foods, social dynamics, and coping mechanisms that influence nutritional choices. Understanding these interconnected elements can guide the development of more effective public health interventions and policy decisions.

Lead author Caitlyn B. Faul, MPH, RD, LDN, Department of Public Health, East Carolina University, stated, “An enhanced understanding of the lived experiences of many individuals in the United States, along with the proposed conceptual framework for nutrition security, can help develop appropriate measures of nutrition security. These measures would, in turn, promote the health and well-being of all individuals.”

Researchers employed a meta-ethnography approach to screen 6,831 published studies. They selected 58 papers focused on lived experiences of nutrition security and synthesized data involving 2,709 US participants. Themes were identified through independent data extraction, collaborative analysis, and coding, leading to the development of a conceptual model with two primary constructs, 16 secondary constructs, and 51 tertiary constructs. This method provided a comprehensive framework to understand the complex factors influencing nutrition security.

Key findings focus on barriers such as affordability, accessibility, and chronic stress, alongside unique influences like cultural accommodation and coping strategies. The framework builds on existing food security models while addressing gaps related to diet quality and equity. These insights aim to guide targeted interventions and policies to improve nutrition security and health outcomes.

The research underscores the connection between food access, diet quality, and public health, highlighting the intricate interplay between environmental and psychosocial factors. Addressing barriers such as chronic stress and limited affordability, the study calls for policies to support equitable access to nutrient-rich foods. It emphasizes the need for interventions that consider both environmental and psychosocial factors to promote lasting dietary improvements. By identifying gaps in existing food security measures, the research provides actionable insights to guide program development and policymaking.

Dr. Faul further stated, “These findings highlight the significance of both environmental circumstances and psychosocial functioning as key components of nutrition security.”

Notes for editors

The article is “A Meta-Ethnography to Determine Critical Constructs of Nutrition Security,” by Caitlyn B. Faul, MPH, RD, LDN, CDCES; Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD; Eric E. Calloway, PhD, RD; Hilary K. Seligman, MD, MAS; Heidi Reis, MLIS, AHIP; Cheryl Webb Cherry, MAc; Irene E. Hatsu, PhD, RDN; Oyinlola Toyin Babatunde, PhD, MPH, RDN; Alexandra L. MacMillan Uribe, PhD, RDN; Jared T. McGuirt, PhD, MPH; and Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, PhD, RD, LD, CSCS (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.11.004opens in new tab/window). It appears in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, volume 57, issue 3 (March 2025), published by Elsevier.

The article is openly available at https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(24)00524-4/fulltextopens in new tab/window.

The authors would like to acknowledge that this paper was supported by Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. H. K. Seligman was supported by the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network, which is funded by Cooperative Agreement Number U48DP006374 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity and Prevention Research Centers Program. The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

Full text of the article is also available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact Eileen Leahy at +1 732 406 1313 or [email protected]opens in new tab/window to obtain a copy or additional information. To schedule an interview with the authors, please contact Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD, Department of Public Health at East Carolina University, at [email protected]opens in new tab/window.

An audio podcast featuring an interview with Caitlyn Faul, MPH, RD, LDN, and other information for journalists are available at www.jneb.org/content/mediaopens in new tab/window. Excerpts from the podcast may be reproduced by the media with permission from Eileen Leahy.

About the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB)

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), the official journal of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), is a refereed, scientific periodical that serves as a resource for all professionals with an interest in nutrition education and dietary/physical activity behaviors. The purpose of JNEB is to document and disseminate original research, emerging issues, and practices relevant to nutrition education and behavior worldwide and to promote healthy, sustainable food choices. It supports the Society's efforts to disseminate innovative nutrition education strategies, and communicate information on food, nutrition, and health issues to students, professionals, policymakers, targeted audiences, and the public.

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior features articles that provide new insights and useful findings related to nutrition education research, practice, and policy. The content areas of JNEB reflect the diverse interests of health, nutrition, education, Cooperative Extension, and other professionals working in areas related to nutrition education and behavior. As the Society's official journal, JNEB also includes occasional policy statements, issue perspectives, and member communications. https://www.jneb.orgopens in new tab/window

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