Taren M Swindle1, Wendy L Ward2, Leanne Whiteside-Mansell3, Patti Bokony3, Dawn Pettit3. 1. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. Electronic address: tswindle@uams.edu. 2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 3. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine demographic differences in frequency of use of technologies and interest in receiving nutrition information via technology by low-income parents and caregivers. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Head Start and state-funded child care programs. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 806 parents and caregivers from low-income families. VARIABLES MEASURED: A 20-item survey assessed frequency of use and interest in technologies (dependent variables) and collected participant age and ethnicity (independent variables). ANALYSIS: Multivariate ANOVA analysis investigated whether age, ethnicity, and their interactions were related to frequency of use and interest in technology types. RESULTS: Daily rates of usage for Internet, text messaging, and cell phone use were over 60%. However, Twitter and blogs were accessed daily by < 13% of respondents. The omnibus 2-way interaction of ethnicity and age was nonsignificant. However, main effects for ethnicity (Wilks' λ = .85; F = 3.13; P < .001) and age (Wilks' λ = .89; F = 2.29; P < .001) were observed. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Facebook, e-mail, texting, and smartphone applications may be innovative modalities to engage with low-income parents and caregivers aged ≤ 45. However, some strategies may be ineffective for reaching Hispanic families as they reported less use of the Internet, Facebook, and e-mail as well as less interest in e-mail. Published by Elsevier Inc.
OBJECTIVE: To examine demographic differences in frequency of use of technologies and interest in receiving nutrition information via technology by low-income parents and caregivers. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Head Start and state-funded child care programs. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 806 parents and caregivers from low-income families. VARIABLES MEASURED: A 20-item survey assessed frequency of use and interest in technologies (dependent variables) and collected participant age and ethnicity (independent variables). ANALYSIS: Multivariate ANOVA analysis investigated whether age, ethnicity, and their interactions were related to frequency of use and interest in technology types. RESULTS: Daily rates of usage for Internet, text messaging, and cell phone use were over 60%. However, Twitter and blogs were accessed daily by < 13% of respondents. The omnibus 2-way interaction of ethnicity and age was nonsignificant. However, main effects for ethnicity (Wilks' λ = .85; F = 3.13; P < .001) and age (Wilks' λ = .89; F = 2.29; P < .001) were observed. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Facebook, e-mail, texting, and smartphone applications may be innovative modalities to engage with low-income parents and caregivers aged ≤ 45. However, some strategies may be ineffective for reaching Hispanic families as they reported less use of the Internet, Facebook, and e-mail as well as less interest in e-mail. Published by Elsevier Inc.