Methods
Results
Quantitative Analysis Highlights
Process Evaluation • Overall, the curriculum was implemented as intended; some sections were compressed and would benefit from more time
• Recommendations gathered to improve recruitment, smooth program kickoff and other logistics
Participants
YOUTH Pre/Post Paired
Differences
Construct† Mean Difference† SD df t
Critical Thinking toward Sources Increased
-1.24 3.03 54 -3.03**
Information Efficacy Increased
-0.66 1.81 49 -2.57*
*p < .05; **p < .01
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U. S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2012-68001-19618. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Project Co-Directors: Erica Weintraub Austin (Lead), Mary Katherine Deen, Jill Armstrong Shultz
Project Investigators: Shirley Calodich, Louise Parker, Thomas Power
Curriculum Developers: Marilyn Cohen and Barbara Johnson
2015 Extension Team: Dori Babcock, Karen Barale, Brian Brandt, Sandra Brown, Kelsey Condon, Hailey Croci, Missy Cummins, Jennifer Fees, Lauren Hrncirik, Alexandra Kaufman, Jeannie Kiehn, Michelle Lain, Christine Price, Carolyn Russo, Gary Varrella, Margaret Viebrock
Project Assistants: Zena Edwards, Davi Kallman, Kit Kaiser, Whitney Stefani
Project Specialist: Michelle Kistler
Poster Created by: Michelle Kistler
Feedback Focus Group Summary
Two parent groups and two youth groups
Parents reported increased nutrition knowledge and a change in nutrition behaviors at home, and described similar changes with their children
Numerous examples provided of out-of-class interactions between parent and child regarding class concepts, particularly nutrition-related behaviors
Youth often “held their parents accountable”
Youth and parents demonstrated increased awareness of food marketing strategies
Parents and youth offered suggestions for clarifying certain concepts and improving certain activities
Findings demonstrated the need to amplify parental mediation skills and parent/youth ML skills in lessons
Background
Situation and Need
Media and marketing are major information sources for children about food, and just 1-2 exposures to food ads influence young children
Children as young as 9 yrs and adults can gain media literacy (ML) skills
No existing program combines youth and parent nutrition and ML education to improve healthy choices
Year 3 Objectives
To execute a feasibility test of the pilot curriculum
To evaluate connections among curriculum measures and outcomes
To recalibrate as needed in preparation for field testing
ADULT Pre/Post
Paired Differences
Construct† Mean Difference† SD df t
Critical Thinking toward Content Increased
-1.51 2.60 56 -4.38**
Critical Thinking toward Sources Increased
-2.72 3.34 56 -6.14**
Negative Parental Mediation (Critical discussion of media content with child) Increased
-1.62 5.78 54 -2.08*
Information Efficacy Increased
-1.28 2.70 56 -3.58**
Advertising Efficacy Increased
-1.76 2.12 58 -6.39**
Label Reading Increased
-2.51 4.30 58 -4.48**
Availability of Healthy Foods in Home Increased
-1.44 3.14 58 -3.52**
Availability of Unhealthy Foods in Home Decreased
1.88 3.83 57 4.23**
*p < .05; **p < .01
Qualitative Analysis
Pathways to Nutrition Behavior Change
Notable change: more parents having pre-cut fresh vegetables available: 63% pre to 78% post
Parents used food labels more often to select foods lower in nutrients related to obesity prevention, including:
o Calories – Those “never “using the label were reduced by 50%, those using it “very often” doubled
o Fat – Parents using the label at least “sometimes” increased from 58% to 71%
o Sodium – Those “never” using label for this reduced by more than 50%, while number using it “very often” more than doubled
Implications: Moving Forward
Future Phases
Phase IV: Two consecutive “cycles” of Field Testing
Each “cycle” consists of one Parent/Child Treatment Group and one Youth-Only Treatment Group, and Control Groups
Six-month and 1-year delayed post-testing for Treatment and Control Groups in Cycle 1; Cycle 2 includes 6-month delayed post-testing
Phase V: Dissemination of Results and Distribution of Final Curriculum
2-day curriculum delivery training
Scripted, systematic recruitment of family dyads by Extension Team
Six-session curriculum developed over the course of past two years
Each session included a parent lesson, a youth lesson, and a parent/youth combined lesson
Process Evaluation included Implementation Logs, observer notes, and an Educator Focus Group
Pre/Post survey design, no control group
Qualitative Data included open-ended survey questions and Feedback Focus Groups of participant sample
Youth
Age n
9 yrs 12
10 yrs 15
11 yrs 18
12 yrs 5
13 yrs 7
14 yrs 2
Gender n
Male 21
Female 38
Adults
Age n
30-35 12
36-40 15
41-45 18
46-50 11
51-55 3
Relation n
Mother 52
Father 6
Other
(Aunt) 1
Race/
Ethnicity n
White 54
Black,
Asian,
and/or
Native
American
8
Hispanic 3
Assistance Programs Received
Program SNAPEd Free or Reduced
Lunch WIC TANF Medicaid None
n 11 16 3 2 12 29
10 Dyads
14 Dyads
14 Dyads
13 Dyads
8 Dyads
N = 59 Parent/Child Dyads
† All Critical Thinking and Efficacy constructs utilized 5-point Likert-type scales (“Strongly Disagree” – “Strongly Agree”);
Negative Parental Mediation utilized a 5-point frequency scale (“Not at All” – “Very Often”);
Label Reading utilized a 5-point frequency scale (“Never” – “Very Often”);
Availability of Healthy and Unhealthy Foods in Home both utilized 5-point frequency scales (“Never” – “Always”).
Youth gained first steps toward critical thinking, but need more ML practice to “go the distance”
Some wording and layout changes will improve reliability and construct validity in surveys
Focus for Revisions Prior to Field Testing
Amplify parental mediation and ML skills training for parents
Focus more on the “5 Key Questions” for Media Literacy
Promising parental gains, but parental gains not yet clearly translating into youth gains
Improve sensitivity of measures to tap extent to which youth gains are tied to parent/youth interaction
Pilot Testing of a Media Literacy-Based Curriculum to Enhance Youth and Parent Media Skills and Food Behaviors: Year 3 of 5 Erica Weintraub Austin, Jill Armstrong Shultz, Mary Katherine Deen, Marilyn Cohen, Shirley Calodich, Barbara K. Johnson, Louise Parker, Thomas Power