Browsing by Author "Kennedy, Lauren E."

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    Awareness and outcomes of the fruits and veggies (FNV) campaign to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among targeted audiences in California and Virginia: a cross-sectional study
    Englund, Tessa R.; Hedrick, Valisa E.; Patiño, Sofía R.; Kennedy, Lauren E.; Hosig, Kathryn W.; Serrano, Elena L.; Kraak, Vivica (2021-06-09)
    Background In 2015, the Partnership for a Healthier America launched the branded Fruits & Veggies (FNV) Campaign to apply a unique industry-inspired marketing approach to promote fruit and vegetable sales and intake to moms and teens in two US pilot markets: Fresno, California and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to: 1) assess brand awareness and fruit- and vegetable-related outcomes among FNV Campaign target audiences in the California and Virginia market locations; and 2) examine whether reported awareness of the FNV Campaign was associated with differences in fruit- and vegetable-related cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected using an online survey administered to a non-probability convenience sample (n = 1604; February–July 2017) of youth aged 14–20 years (n = 744) and moms aged 21–36 years (n = 860) in the two pilot markets. Descriptive statistics were computed and outcomes compared between unaware and aware respondents, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to assess whether fruit- and vegetable-related attitude, belief, and encouragement outcomes differed by FNV Campaign awareness; logistic regression was used to examine associations between FNV brand awareness and dichotomous variables (fruit- and vegetable-related behavioral intentions, trying new fruits and vegetables); and ANCOVA was used to assess associations with daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency. Results Approximately 20% (n = 315/1604) of respondents reported awareness of the FNV Campaign. Youth that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 167, 22.4%) had higher intentions to buy (p = 0.003) and eat (p = 0.009) fruits and vegetables than unaware respondents. Mothers that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 148, 17.2%) reported greater encouragement for friends and family to eat fruits and vegetables (p = 0.013) and were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report trying a new fruit or vegetable (p = 0.04) than mothers unaware of the Campaign. Daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency did not differ by Campaign awareness. Conclusions FNV Campaign awareness was associated with limited but positive short- and intermediate-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes among target audience respondents. These findings can inform future research to enhance understanding and improve the FNV Campaign as it is expanded to new markets nationwide.
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    Evaluation For Buying and Eating Fruits and Vegetables Among Teens and Moms Exposed to the Fruits & Veggies (FNV) Campaign in California and Virginia, 2015-2017
    Duffey, Kiyah J.; Kennedy, Lauren E.; Englund, Tessa R.; Rincón-Gallardo Patiño, Sofía; Hedrick, Valisa E.; Kraak, Vivica (2017-12)
    In 2015, the PHA launched the branded FNV (Fruits & Veggies) Campaign in California and Virginia to increase sales and consumption of fruits and vegetables among millennial moms (21-34 years) and Generation Z teens (15-20 years). This study summarizes trends in U.S. fruit and vegetable consumption behaviors. We also describe the survey results that examined the familiarity of the FNV Campaign among Generation Z teens and Millennial moms in the two lead cities or test locations—Fresno in the Central Valley region of California and the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia. Methods: A 35-item Qualtrics survey was administered either in person or online to Millennial moms and Generation Z teens in the two lead cities (n= 1604; Fresno, California: n= 746; Hampton Roads, Virginia: n=858) between February 1, 2017 and June 31, 2017. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 for Windows (IBM Corporation, USA, 2016). We analyzed differences in cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes by each test location. Differences within each city were compared between those who were familiar versus unfamiliar with the FNV Campaign. Results: About a quarter (25%) of respondents in each lead city (25.2% in Fresno, California and 25.8% in Hampton Roads, Virginia) were familiar with the FNV Campaign. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, a larger percentage of respondents reported having seen the FNV logo, while in Fresno, California, respondents reported an equal distribution between seeing the logo online or in the community, or just having heard of FNV. Apples, bananas and carrots were the most commonly recognized foods by participants surveyed who recalled seeing the FNV Campaign. There were no statistically significant differences between respondents familiar with the FNV Campaign and their awareness of previous campaigns that encouraged fruits and vegetables (e.g., Five a Day and Fruits and Veggies—More Matters). Respondents familiar with the FNV Campaign were not more knowledgeable about U.S. government-recommended servings of fruits and vegetables (e.g., 4.5 cup equivalents/day), compared to those who were unfamiliar with FNV Campaign. Respon¬dents in both test locations were significantly more likely to agree that they found it hard to purchase fruits and vegetables in their neighborhood and that eating fruits and vegetables affected their health. In Fresno, California but not Hampton Roads, Virginia, respondents familiar with FNV were significantly more confident in their ability to purchase but not prepare fruits and vegetables. There were statistically significant differences between respondents in Fresno, California who were familiar with the FNV Campaign. These respondents reported more daily servings of 100% vegetable juice, dark-green leafy vegetables and orange-colored vegetables compared to those who were unfamiliar with FNV, although the latter differences were not significant. No differences were observed between respondents who were familiar or unfamiliar with the FNV Campaign in Hampton Roads, Virginia. We found no differences in the fruit and vegetable purchasing behaviors of those familiar versus unfamiliar with the FNV Campaign in either test location. Large supermarkets and farmers’ markets were the two most common locations where respondents’ reported always or mostly shopping for food. Conclusions: While a quarter of respondents interviewed were familiar with the FNV brand, more work is needed to influence the target populations’ awareness about the FNV Campaign. There is also a need to understand how to use IMC to promote actionable and memorable messages to encourage target groups to purchase and consume more fruits and vegetables regularly that align with the DGA. We offer six recommendations to inform future research, evaluation and marketing of the FNV Campaign.
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    Evaluation of a mindfulness-based stress management and nutrition education program for mothers
    Kennedy, Lauren E.; Hosig, Kathy L.; Ju, Young; Serrano, Elena L. (Cogent, 2019-10-31)
    Background: Maternal stress is implicated in obesity and obesity-related chronic disease. This can have consequences for their children’s weight status and disease development. Interventions are needed that target both psychological stress and diet using evidence-based approaches. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the perceived impact of the Slow Down intervention on participants’ self-efficacy for practicing mindfulness and the barriers and perceived benefits to adopting intervention target behaviors. The ways that knowledge was brokered and transferred provided guidance on the translation of mindfulness within dietary interventions. Design: This was a qualitative evaluation of a mixed-methods quasi-experimental pilot intervention. A focus group was conducted post-intervention and a follow-up semi-structured individual interview took place 4–6 weeks post-intervention. Results: Self-efficacy for practicing mindfulness skills was generally high or described as mixed by participants. Reported benefits from participating in the intervention included increased social support, improved sleep, and improved reaction to stressors, among others. Participants reported barriers to making changes, including family or partner buy-in. Participants cited several ways that knowledge was gained and transferred throughout the intervention that could improve the translation of mindfulness research into practice. Conclusions: With increasing evidence supporting the use of mindfulness in public health nutrition interventions, there are gaps in describing the benefits of participation in mindfulness interventions and the barriers to making health behavior changes as a result of participation. This study demonstrates the potential for nutrition interventions that include psychological health and provides guidance on how to implement mindfulness practice into public health practice settings.
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    The Examination of Mindfulness, Stress, and Eating Behaviors in Mothers of Young Children
    Kennedy, Lauren E. (Virginia Tech, 2016-05-03)
    With the alarming prevalence of overweight and obesity, it is important to explore new approaches and strategies to improve dietary quality and weight status. Recently, a neuropsychological model of obesity was proposed. This new model illustrates an evidencebased relationship between a chronically activated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, due to chronic psychological stress and mood disturbance, and the food reward-related mechanisms within the brain. Intensive mindfulness-based training programs, such as Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction have demonstrated impressive results with a variety of populations. Given the relationship of stress to eating behavior and the capacity of mindfulness in managing stress, a relationship between mindfulness and eating is expected. The goal of this dissertation research was to help understand the concept of mindful eating and the relationship between stress and eating behavior for mothers of young children in order to inform the development of a mindfulness-based stress management and dietary intervention. The research consisted of three components: 1) an informative photo-elicitation study with working mothers of young children aiming to understand how mothers define, perceive, and experience mindful eating; 2) a crosssectional study investigating the relationship between mindful eating, dietary quality, and stress; and 3) the development and mixed-methods pilot intervention of the Slow Down Program, a mindfulness-based stress management and nutrition program for mothers of young children. Results from these studies give further evidence on how mindfulness can be utilized in nutrition research and they further confirm the success of mindfulness-based training on health and dietary outcomes. This research can inform public health programs and practice to encourage mindfulness, as it relates to dietary behavior, for families and other audiences, as well as future research studies that explore the interaction between mindfulness and eating behaviors.
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    Kristen Jones, Housekeeping Supervisor, Femoyer Hall, Virginia Tech
    Kennedy, Lauren E.; Herber, Katie (2010)
    Oral histories of people living or working in Montgomery, County Virginia, were conducted by students of Dr. Emily Satterwhite's HUM 2504 Introduction to American Studies class from 2006 to 2011. Each submission contains a transcript of the interview and a narrative that students created based on the transcript. Some submissions include a paper in which the student reflects on the interview experience.