(OR10-03-24) A Multi-group Path Analysis Comparing the Model of Community Nutrition Environments by Food Security Status

Objectives: The Model of Community Nutrition Environments (MCNE) is a well-known conceptual model of multilevel food environment influences (community, consumer, home) on healthy eating within public health nutrition, yet the model has not been well-tested. This study used multi-group path analysis to test the MCNE and compare differences by food security status.

Methods: Baseline data (October 2020-December2022) with 2-1-1 clients participating in a home environment-focused healthy eating intervention were used, including a home food environment survey, two 24-hour dietary recalls, and USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas measure for census tract food access. Multi-group path analysis was used to test major pathways in the MCNE for food secure (n=133) and insecure (n=377) participants. Variables included demographics, perceived (healthy eating barriers) and objective (supermarket access) community food access, home fruit and vegetable (FV) availability and accessibility, household FV shopping frequencies, and the outcomes of Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015 component scores for total FV.

Results: The multi-group model fit the data well (RMSEA=0.017, CFI=0.964, TLI=0.943) and revealed significant direct effects by food security status. Among those who were food secure, home FV availability and accessibility positively predicted HEI total vegetable scores, households residing in low-access census tracts shopped for vegetables less frequently, and those with higher scores on the perceived access scale (i.e., lower perceived access) were less likely to have FV accessible at home. Among those experiencing food insecurity, there were no direct effects on HEI outcomes, though households residing in low-access census tracts were more likely to have FV accessible at home, and both perceived and objective food access were affected by several demographic variables.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that the MCNE operates differently depending on one’s food security status. Further testing of the entirety of this well-known model is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these pathways and the leverage points that can have the greatest impact on healthy eating behaviors and diet quality, especially for those experiencing food insecurity.

Funding Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention