Association between Travel Times and Food Procurement Practices among Female Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participants in Eastern North Carolina

Objective: To examine associations between self-reported vehicular travel behaviors, perceived stress, food procurement practices, and body mass index among female Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Analysis: The authors used correlation and regression analyses to examine cross-sectional associations between travel time and distance, perceived stress, food procurement practices (grocery shopping frequency, fast-food consumption, home meal consumption), and body mass index among female SNAP participants aged 20-65 years (n = 215) in eastern North Carolina. Results: There were positive associations (P <. 05) between travel patterns and stress (r = 0.18 for average miles traveled), grocery shopping frequency (r = 0.16 for average miles traveled), and fast-food consumption (r = 0.19 for average miles traveled, r = 0.29 for average minutes traveled). Conclusions and Implications: SNAP education materials should focus on healthful interactions with the food environment, even when participants must travel long distances.