@article{jfnr20221076,
author={{Liou, Doreen and Karasik, Jessica},
title={Perceptions of COVID-19 and Dietary-Related Beliefs in American Undergraduate Students},
journal={Journal of Food and Nutrition Research},
volume={10},
number={7},
pages={482--487},
year={2022},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/10/7/6},
issn={2333-1240},
abstract={COVID-19 has become a worldwide pandemic, causing immense physical, social & emotional repercussions. Unbalanced nutrition and social isolation can lead to compromised immune systems, which can increase vulnerability to this viral infection. There is limited research addressing college students¡¯ beliefs of COVID-19 related to nutrient intake. The purpose of this qualitative study is to ascertain health-related beliefs related to COVID-19 risk and prevention among undergraduate students enrolled in a New Jersey university. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-five undergraduate, full-time students (18 females, 7 males) between the ages of 18 to 25. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted virtually on Zoom and audio-recorded for transcription. An interview protocol consisted of seven open-ended questions related to COVID-19 using tenets of Health Belief Model. Perceived susceptibility and severity to the virus were ascertained along with perceived benefits of adopting diet-related behavior. Questions pertaining to perceived barriers and self-efficacy were queried. All interviews were transcribed verbatim with qualitative analyses performed by two independent researchers who coded the transcripts to achieve inter-rater reliability. Codes were merged into broad themes to derive an original theoretical framework addressing participants¡¯ risk and prevention of COVID-19. Participants expressed their susceptibility to COVID-19 ranging from low-risk to high-risk based on their age, public exposure, and pre-existing health conditions. Perceived severity included notable physical, mental, and social effects. Perceived benefits included the consumption of fruits and vegetables and vitamin supplementation. Perceived barriers in adopting a healthy diet included financial and time constraints. Nutrition and health practitioners need to assess young adults¡¯ beliefs and susceptibility to COVID-19. Educators should assess college students¡¯ motivation to adopt healthy diets to balance their immune systems.},
doi={10.12691/jfnr-10-7-6}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}