Variation in School District Nutrition Policies and Practices: Community Context Matters

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Emley, Elizabeth (ORCID Emley, Elizabeth (ORCID 0000-0002-3260-711X); Dial, Lauren (ORCID Dial, Lauren (ORCID 0000-0003-4022-1572); Koerten, Hannah (ORCID Koerten, Hannah (ORCID 0000-0001-7008-2505); Musher-Eizenman, Dara (ORCID Musher-Eizenman, Dara (ORCID 0000-0002-3783-985X)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    American Journal of Health Education. 2020 51(5):289-298.
  • Publication Date:
    2020
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      10
    • Education Level:
      Elementary Secondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      Educational Environment; Nutrition; School Policy; Poverty; Community Characteristics; Scores; Prediction; Rural Schools; Urban Schools; Suburban Schools; Public Schools; Correlation; Health Promotion; Food; School Districts; Health Education; Wellness; Faculty Development; Nutrition Instruction; Elementary Secondary Education
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/19325037.2020.1795753
    • ISSN:
      1932-5037
    • Abstract:
      Background: The school nutrition environment has a large impact on child diet. However, there is a paucity of nationally representative research on factors that predict effective nutrition policies, practices, and education in schools. Purpose: The current study utilized Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from the 2016 School Health Policies and Practices Survey (SHPPS) to explore the impact of poverty and community type (i.e., urban/rural spectrum) on these variables. Methods: Data from the 2016 SHPPS included 740 U.S. public schools. Composite scores were created from survey items related to dietary policies and practices. Results: Schools of greater rurality and urbanicity had more nutrition policies and education but fewer practices than suburban districts. Rural districts generally had fewer nutrition policies, practices, and education than urban districts. Poverty did not consistently predict these variables. Discussion: Community type is a crucial variable in the school nutrition environment and may better explain discrepancies among schools than poverty. Future efforts might focus on improving school nutrition policy and practice adherence, especially in rural areas. Translation to Health Education Practice: Further research using nationally representative data can help health educators better understand what interventions may produce the best results within their unique community type.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2020
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1270261