dc.contributor.author	Weiglein, Carolyn Anderson Jr.	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Brochetti, Denise	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Duncan, Susan E.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Schlenker, Eleanor D.	en
dc.contributor.department	Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-14T21:52:59Z	en
dc.date.adate	1998-09-08	en
dc.date.available	2014-03-14T21:52:59Z	en
dc.date.issued	1998-07-24	en
dc.date.rdate	1999-09-08	en
dc.date.sdate	1998-07-24	en
dc.description.abstract	Research has indicated that college-age women are not consuming the recommended daily servings of dairy foods, and therefore, have inadequate calcium intakes as well. Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 29 college women to explore their perceptions, opinions, thoughts, and feelings about dairy foods. Single, non-Hispanic white females, aged 19-22, enrolled in state-funded colleges and universities in Virginia were recruited for the study. Discussion questions addressed preferences for dairy foods, advantages and disadvantages of dairy foods, factors that influence dairy consumption, and ideas for product improvements. Focus group discussions were audio taped, transcribed by the researcher, then checked for accuracy by a Virginia Tech undergraduate student. Major themes and subthemes were identified, and results were reported in the following theme categories: 1) health and nutrition perceptions of dairy foods, 2) external influences on dairy food consumption, 3) characteristics of dairy products, and 4) ideas for product improvements. Women in this study perceived the high calcium content of dairy foods to be a health benefit. Women thought calcium was important for the prevention of osteoporosis; however, most women did not seem to perceive osteoporosis as an immediate health concern. A predominant theme throughout all focus groups was that college women thought many dairy foods were high in fat. Use of calcium supplements as well as other vitamin/mineral supplements to meet nutrient requirements was common among this sample of college women. Other factors that influenced women's dairy food choices included family influences (especially mothers), college lifestyle, and media sources. Specifically, mothers encouraged women to drink milk during childhood and to use supplements. Women's busy lifestyles at college influenced them to choose convenient dairy foods. Women's concern with body weight and image played a role in their lower fat dairy food choices. Sensory characteristics of dairy foods, particularly taste, were important to the college women's dairy food choices. Women wanted convenient and "easily accessible" dairy foods, and their ideas for product improvements included smaller package sizes, easier opening of packages, and improved availability of low fat dairy options in restaurants and dining halls. Nutrition educators should strive to emphasize the importance of adequate dairy food consumption to college women now to prevent osteoporosis in the future. Continued promotion of low fat dairy choices is important to help ensure that women receive adequate intake of calcium and other important nutrients.	en
dc.description.degree	Master of Science	en
dc.identifier.other	etd-8798-14520	en
dc.identifier.sourceurl	http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-8798-14520/	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/46516	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.relation.haspart	title.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	acknowledge.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	toc.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	ch1.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	ch2.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	ch3.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	ch4.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	ch5.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	ch6.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	ch7.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	refs.pdf	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	Fat	en
dc.subject	Osteoporosis	en
dc.subject	Calcium	en
dc.subject	Dairy Foods	en
dc.subject	College Women	en
dc.subject	Convenience	en
dc.title	College Women's Perceptions of Dairy Foods: A Qualitative Study	en
dc.type	Thesis	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	masters	en
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science	en

College Women's Perceptions of Dairy Foods: A Qualitative Study

Files

Original bundle

Collections