Healthy and Sustainable Diets in Times of Crisis: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study of Risk Factors and Coping Mechanisms in UK Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
To develop interventions and policies to promote healthy and sustainable diets during times of crisis, it is important to understand how populations respond to such situations based on real-life examples. Using the recent COVID-19 pandemic as a case study to identify risk and protective factors for such situations, we implemented the first longitudinal mixed-methods approach of this topic to date. Data were collected from a sample of UK parents (stratified for gender and socioeconomic status) through two surveys and a set of focus groups during the pandemic. The focus groups identified multifaceted drivers of change linked to capability (e.g., shielding), opportunity (e.g., time, food access and availability), and motivation (e.g., reflective motivation, stress and mental health challenges) barriers. High levels of COVID-19 stress were linked with less healthy and sustainable diets in the survey results, while higher social cohesion, reflective motivation to consume healthy foods, and positive coping scores were protective, and linked to healthier and more sustainable diets. A range of coping strategies were identified, including home cooking and meal planning, which could provide a basis for future intervention development to reduce stress, maintain wellbeing, and improve dietary outcomes in future crisis situations.
Citation
Bridge, G., Vogt, J., Armstrong, B., Schmidt Rivera, X., Kaur, A., Stetkiewicz, S., & Stetkiewicz, S. (in press). Healthy and Sustainable Diets in Times of Crisis: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study of Risk Factors and Coping Mechanisms in UK Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability, 17(13), Article 5878. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135878
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Files
Healthy and Sustainable Diets in Times of Crisis: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study of Risk Factors and Coping Mechanisms in UK Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
(2 Mb)
PDF
