Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Elizabeth Brondolo

Second Advisor

Dana Chesney

Abstract

Obesity is a public health concern that is associated with numerous life-limiting chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Marginalized groups such as Black, Latinos, and Native Americans experience obesity and related illnesses at high rates. Research suggests that diet is one of the causes of these illnesses, and as such understanding the determinants of diet may assist in addressing health disparities in the United States. Literature suggests that diet may be associated with stressors such as perceived discrimination. However, few studies have assessed this relationship within the Native American population, and none have employed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure food intake. This study addresses these gaps in the literature and examines the relationship between perceived discrimination and food intake frequency as measured by an EMA daily diary. It was hypothesized that perceived discrimination would be positively associated with food intake frequency. Results found that discrimination is associated with less frequent eating overall, (estimate = -.1615, SE = .0606, t = -2.66, p = .005, 95% CI:(-.2809, -.0421)). This effect is a function of reduced frequency of meals, not of consumption of snacks or healthy foods. The evidence does not support the hypothesis that perceived discrimination is positively associated with overall food intake.

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