Understanding Whole Grain Consumption among Low-Income Older Adults Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract

Older adults have low whole grain (WG) intake. This qualitative study used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify low-income older adults’ WG beliefs. A convenience sample of 25 low-income adults 60 years and older were interviewed using questions developed based on TPB constructs: behavioral, normative, and control beliefs. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, cross-checked for consistency, and analyzed using content analysis. Study results revealed that regarding behavioral beliefs, health benefits, taste, and nutrition were WG advantages and sensory qualities, higher cost, and longer cooking time were disadvantages. Regarding normative beliefs, healthcare professionals and family members approved WG intake and those less informed about WGs disapproved. Regarding control beliefs, availability/accessibility, knowledge of WG benefits, and WG cooking skills facilitated WG intake and age-related changes, WG cost, decreased motivation to cook, and low knowledge (label reading) were barriers. Results provide insights for developing programs to increase older adults’ WG intake.

Keywords:

• Whole grains
• theory of planned behavior
• older adults
• low-income

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the study participants and congregate meal site who allowed us to conduct our project in their spaces and thank you to The University of Alabama nutrition students who assisted in this project.

Disclosure statement

No authors report a conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by The University of Alabama Human Research Ethics Committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

Author contributions

S. E. Jung, Y. H. Shin, and J. Hermann designed the study. S. E. Jung, L. Cave, and J. Rockett collected the data. S. E. Jung, Y. H. Shin, and L. Cave analyzed the data. All authors (S. E. Jung, Y. H. Shin, L. Cave, J. Rockett, and J. Hermann) contributed to the writing, interpretation of the data, and editing the manuscript critically for important intellectual content.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Mary A. Crenshaw Endowed Research Grant through The College of Human Environmental Sciences at The University of Alabama.