The current study investigated environmental barriers to the intention-behavior gap. The food environment was examined as a moderator between motivation for healthy living and actual eating behavior. A sample of 55 low-income African American women (Mage = 30.25, SD = 7.46) completed self-report motivation and eating behavior questionnaires. The food environment was measured by the number and proportion of healthy and unhealthy food retailers in one’s neighborhood using ArcGIS mapping software. The results showed that greater motivation was associated with less unhealthy eating when there was relatively equal access to nearby unhealthy and healthy food retailers. When given both options, in the context of high motivation, individuals may be more likely to decline unhealthy foods consisting of high amounts of oils, fats, and sugars. A combination of motivational interventions and innovative food policy and urban planning initiatives may be needed to promote healthier communities.
","abstract_html":"<p>The current study investigated environmental barriers to the intention-behavior gap. The food environment was examined as a moderator between motivation for healthy living and actual eating behavior. A sample of 55 low-income African American women (<em>M<sub>age</sub></em> = 30.25, <em>SD</em> = 7.46) completed self-report motivation and eating behavior questionnaires. The food environment was measured by the number and proportion of healthy and unhealthy food retailers in one’s neighborhood using ArcGIS mapping software. The results showed that greater motivation was associated with less unhealthy eating when there was relatively equal access to nearby unhealthy and healthy food retailers. When given both options, in the context of high motivation, individuals may be more likely to decline unhealthy foods consisting of high amounts of oils, fats, and sugars. A combination of motivational interventions and innovative food policy and urban planning initiatives may be needed to promote healthier communities.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Glownia, Karen"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Heather Janisse, Ph.D., Chair","Karen Saules, Ph.D.","Stephen Jefferson, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2022,"date_issued":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:47Z","subjects":["Clinical Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1162","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Heather Janisse, Ph.D., Chair","Karen Saules, Ph.D.","Stephen Jefferson, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Glownia, Karen"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2022-09-21T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Clinical Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1162"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The current study investigated environmental barriers to the intention-behavior gap. The food environment was examined as a moderator between motivation for healthy living and actual eating behavior. A sample of 55 low-income African American women (Mage = 30.25, SD = 7.46) completed self-report motivation and eating behavior questionnaires. The food environment was measured by the number and proportion of healthy and unhealthy food retailers in one’s neighborhood using ArcGIS mapping software. The results showed that greater motivation was associated with less unhealthy eating when there was relatively equal access to nearby unhealthy and healthy food retailers. When given both options, in the context of high motivation, individuals may be more likely to decline unhealthy foods consisting of high amounts of oils, fats, and sugars. A combination of motivational interventions and innovative food policy and urban planning initiatives may be needed to promote healthier communities.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Examining the intention-behavior gap: The impact of the food environment on the eating behaviors of low-income African American women"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Heather Janisse, Ph.D., Chair","Karen Saules, Ph.D.","Stephen Jefferson, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Glownia, Karen"],"dc:date.available":["2022-09-21T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The current study investigated environmental barriers to the intention-behavior gap. The food environment was examined as a moderator between motivation for healthy living and actual eating behavior. A sample of 55 low-income African American women (Mage = 30.25, SD = 7.46) completed self-report motivation and eating behavior questionnaires. The food environment was measured by the number and proportion of healthy and unhealthy food retailers in one’s neighborhood using ArcGIS mapping software. The results showed that greater motivation was associated with less unhealthy eating when there was relatively equal access to nearby unhealthy and healthy food retailers. When given both options, in the context of high motivation, individuals may be more likely to decline unhealthy foods consisting of high amounts of oils, fats, and sugars. A combination of motivational interventions and innovative food policy and urban planning initiatives may be needed to promote healthier communities.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1162"],"dc:subject":["Clinical Psychology"],"dc:title":["Examining the intention-behavior gap: The impact of the food environment on the eating behaviors of low-income African American women"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:47Z"}