A Study Of The Associations Between Demographics And Socioeconomic Status Of Parents And Use Of Functional Foods In Feeding Their Child(Ren)

The present study was conducted to examine associations between demographics and socioeconomic status of parents and their use of functional foods in feeding their child(ren). Using a quantitative, descriptive study design, surveys were disseminated through both email and take home flyer within the Tupelo and Lafayette County Public School Districts in North Mississippi. A total of 187 parents met the inclusion criteria and completed the survey. This study found that parental education, race, marital status, self-reported overall health, and the age of children in their household significantly predicted use of functional foods by parents in feeding their child(ren). Implications from this research study stress the fact that children's dietary preferences and habits are formed during early childhood. Thus the implementation of school-based nutrition programs and the inclusion of parental figures may improve children's overall dietary practices, possibly reducing the risk of diet-related chronic disease in the future.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nutrition and Hospitality Management

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Deleon, Olivia

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mary G. Roseman
• Hyun-Woo Joung
• Yunhee Chang

• Age Of Children
• Functional Foods
• Parental Education Level
• Parental Marital Status
• Parental Race
• School Nutrition
• Medicine and Health Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/1005

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-2004