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Educational Attainment Promotes Fruit and Vegetable Intake for Whites but Not Blacks

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  • Shervin Assari

    (Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
    BRITE Center for Science, Research and Policy, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
    Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health (CRECH), School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
    Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2700, USA)

  • Maryam Moghani Lankarani

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2700, USA)

Abstract

Background . Although the protective effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on health behaviors are well-known, according to the minorities’ diminished return theory, the health return of SES, particularly educational attainment, is systemically smaller for minorities than Whites. Aims. The current study explored Black–White differences in the effects of educational attainment and income on the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Methods . This cross-sectional study used the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2017 ( n = 3217). HINTS is a nationally representative survey of American adults. The current analysis included 2277 adults who were either non-Hispanic White ( n = 1868; 82%) or non-Hispanic Black ( n = 409; 18%). The independent variables in this study were SES (educational attainment and income). The dependent variable was consumption of fruits and vegetables. Race was the focal moderator. Results . In the overall sample, high educational attainment and income were associated with higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. Race moderated the effect of educational attainment but not income on the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Conclusion . In line with the past research in the United States, Whites constantly gain more health benefits from the very same educational attainment than Blacks. The health gain from income is more equal across races than the health gain from educational attainment. Such diminished returns may be due to racism across institutions in the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Shervin Assari & Maryam Moghani Lankarani, 2018. "Educational Attainment Promotes Fruit and Vegetable Intake for Whites but Not Blacks," J, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjopen:v:1:y:2018:i:1:p:5-41:d:150398
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    1. Bailey Houghtaling & Matthew Greene & Kaustubh V. Parab & Chelsea R. Singleton, 2022. "Improving Fruit and Vegetable Accessibility, Purchasing, and Consumption to Advance Nutrition Security and Health Equity in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Aditya R. Khanal & Sudip Adhikari & Fisseha Tegegne, 2024. "Why don't low‐income households purchase fruits and vegetables? Findings from African American communities in Nashville metro areas of Tennessee," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(1), pages 202-216, March.
    3. Shervin Assari & Shanika Boyce & Mohsen Bazargan & Cleopatra H. Caldwell & Ron Mincy, 2020. "Maternal Education at Birth and Youth Breakfast Consumption at Age 15: Blacks’ Diminished Returns," J, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-11, September.
    4. Hafifa Siddiq & Babak Najand, 2022. "Immigration Status, Socioeconomic Status, and Self-Rated Health in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-12, November.

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