The Student Journal of Service Sector Management Research

Families Experiences of Household Food Insecurity during the School Summer Holidays; a qualitative analysis from a behavioural perspective using the COM-B model

Bethany Waterhouse — 2024-09-04

This research examines the experiences of household food insecurity within a cohort of adults with school-aged children in Sheffield, England. An online survey formed the primary method of data collection which was distributed to participants on two occasions. The full data set recorded responses from 394 participants in July and 199 participants in September. The Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation to Behaviour change model (COM-B) apprised a thematic analysis. This analysis highlighted four key themes (food preparation knowledge, decision-making and self-monitoring, affordability and family dynamics) that influence household food insecurity. In sum, this research indicates that many parents possess the psychological capabilities and motivation to prepare healthy meals; however, considerable opportunity barriers inhibit their ability to maintain positive food behaviours. Thus, it is recommended that future policies aim to enhance the consistency and accessibility of food resources for the most deprived households to reduce prevalent inequalities.

Holiday Hunger and Family Stress: the experience of household food insecurity during the school summer holidays

Margaret A Abiodun-Adeniyi — 2024-09-04

The school summer holidays can be a challenging period for many parents, as they are challenged with the pressures of covering household expenses and providing additional food for their children, when free school meals are unavailable. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between food insecurity during the summer months, and various stressors within households of UK parents residing in North-central England, who had school-age children. In this observational study, the perceptions and experiences of parents (n= 60) were explored pre and post summer holiday, via an online questionnaire. Among the sample, 60% of households reported experiencing some level of food insecurity (FI), with corresponding higher scores on the comprehensive 36-point stress scale. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between irregular income and both household food insecurity (HFI) and parental stress. These findings underscore the significance of economic factors as substantial predictors of household food insecurity. Initiatives aimed at alleviating economic hardship would not only diminish food insecurity during the school summer holidays but also have the potential to enhance the physical and mental health and well-being of families.

The influence of nutrition knowledge on the self-regulation of eating

Jordan D Beaumont — 2024-09-04

Self-regulation of eating behaviour refers to the ability to make healthy dietary choices, resist temptation and maintain a healthier diet over the longer term through monitoring, controlling and modifying thoughts, feeling and behaviour in response to food and related cues. Greater nutrition knowledge appears to be correlated with improved self-regulatory capacity, but evidence is lacking. The present study explored self-regulation capacity of individuals with knowledge of nutrition versus a lay audience. A total of 71 participants completed an online survey measuring nutritional knowledge, general self-regulatory capacity, the self-regulation of eating, trait eating behaviours and body image perception. General self-regulation capacity was negatively correlated with nutrition knowledge scores (r = −.320, p = .017), where greater self-regulation was associated with poorer nutrition-related knowledge. There was no correlation between self-regulation specific to eating behaviour and nutrition knowledge (r = −.064, p = .634). These findings suggest a poor link between self-regulatory capacity and nutrition knowledge. However, findings show a link between self-regulation, perceived struggle to maintain a healthy weight and disordered eating behaviours (e.g., uncontrolled and emotional eating), suggesting dietary self-regulation may be important for preventing problematic eating behaviours.