An Evaluation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceived Social Distancing Policies in Relation to Planning, Selecting, and Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study in 38 Countries Worldwide.

Charlotte De Backer,Kathleen Van Royen,Paulien Decorte,Christophe Matthys,Isabelle Cuykx,Lauranna Teunissen,Sara Pabian,Haleama Al Sabbah,Sarah Gerritsen,The Corona Cooking Survey Study Group

doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.621726

Charlotte De Backer, Kathleen Van Royen + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.621726

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Abstract

Objectives: To examine changes in planning, selecting, and preparing healthy foods in relation to personal factors (time, money, stress) and social distancing policies during the COVID-19 crisis.Methods: Using cross-sectional online surveys collected in 38 countries worldwide in April-June 2020 (N = 37,207, Mage 36.7 SD 14.8, 77% women), we compared changes in food literacy behaviors to changes in personal factors and social distancing policies, using hierarchical multiple regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic variables.Results: Increases in planning (4.7 SD 1.3, 4.9 SD 1.3), selecting (3.6 SD 1.7, 3.7 SD 1.7), and preparing (4.6 SD 1.2, 4.7 SD 1.3) healthy foods were found for women and men, and positively related to perceived time availability and stay-at-home policies. Psychological distress was a barrier for women, and an enabler for men. Financial stress was a barrier and enabler depending on various sociodemographic variables (all p < 0.01).Conclusion: Stay-at-home policies and feelings of having more time during COVID-19 seem to have improved food literacy. Stress and other social distancing policies relate to food literacy in more complex ways, highlighting the necessity of a health equity lens.

Highlights

At the onset of the global COVID-19 crisis, “panic buying” of grocery staples and time-intensive food preparation activities emerged worldwide [1, 2]
This study aims to investigate how the onset of the COVID-19 crisis and ensuing social distancing policies have influenced individual feelings that led to changes in planning, selecting, and preparing healthier foods in 38 countries worldwide
All three food literacy behavior domains increased during the COVID-19 crisis in both women and men [plan, women, F(1, 522,232) = 25594.47, p < 0.01, men F(1, 149,036) = 2931.54, p < 0.01; select, women, F(1, 522,232) = 1088.85, p < 0.01, men F(1, 149,036) = 1153.84, p < 0.01; prepare, women, F(1, 522,232) = 9,819.70, p < 0.01, men F(1, 149,036) = 1054.81, p < 0.01, see Table 1 for all means and SD]

Summary

Introduction

At the onset of the global COVID-19 crisis, “panic buying” of grocery staples and time-intensive food preparation activities emerged worldwide [1, 2]. The crisis and social distancing policies created unique situations worldwide that allow us to study people and their circumstances in relation to food and health, which is needed for future intervention approaches [3]. The goal of this study is to evaluate people’s experience of and responses to the COVID-19 crisis and social distancing policies in relation to three behavioral food literacy components: planning, selecting, and preparing healthier foods [4, 5] that have a direct impact on of the individual and household? We hypothesize that due to the COVID-19 crisis, financial stress and, if applicable, loss of income will have had negative associations with food literacy behavior

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