Singleton Chelsea R, Gartner Danielle J, Winata Fikriyah, Rose Donald, Sheehan Karen M, McLafferty Sara L
Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, USA, 70112.
Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
J Community Health. 2025 Jun;50(3):499-506. doi: 10.1007/s10900-024-01436-4. Epub 2025 Jan 20.
Crime is a public health issue that disproportionately affects racially-marginalized populations. Studies have reported that food stores (e.g., grocery stores, convenience stores) often attract crime due to their volume of cash transactions and limited security. Little is known about how exposure to crime at food stores affects nutrition or health. This study aimed to fill this research gap by exploring the lived experiences of Black Americans. In 2023, 502 Black-identifying adults completed a survey online. They reported their socio-demographics, fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, food security status, height, weight, and experiences with crime at food stores in their community. Multivariable-adjusted regression models were examined to identify associations between exposure to crime at food stores and the following measures: low food security status, obesity status, and daily servings of FVs. Approximately 150 (29%) participants avoided one or more food stores in their community due to crime; 102 (20%) had witnessed a crime at a food store. Those who avoided food stores had greater odds of low food security (OR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.25-3.02) and obesity (OR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.33-3.48) compared to others. Those who witnessed a crime had greater odds of low food security (OR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.82-5.41). Exposure to crime at food stores was not associated with FV consumption after adjusting for socio-demographics. Exposure to crime in food stores may have negative health and nutritional implications. Future studies should explore these implications for populations that are disproportionately affected by crime.
犯罪是一个公共卫生问题，对种族边缘化人群的影响尤为严重。研究报告称，食品店（如杂货店、便利店）由于现金交易量较大且安保措施有限，常常成为犯罪目标。关于在食品店接触犯罪如何影响营养或健康，人们知之甚少。本研究旨在通过探索美国黑人的生活经历来填补这一研究空白。2023年，502名自我认定为黑人的成年人在线完成了一项调查。他们报告了自己的社会人口统计学特征、水果和蔬菜（FV）摄入量、食品安全状况、身高、体重以及在社区食品店遭遇犯罪的经历。通过多变量调整回归模型来确定在食品店接触犯罪与以下指标之间的关联：低食品安全状况、肥胖状况以及FV的每日摄入量。约150名（29%）参与者因犯罪而避开了社区中的一家或多家食品店；102名（20%）曾在食品店目睹犯罪。与其他人相比，那些避开食品店的人粮食安全状况不佳（比值比：1.94；95%置信区间：1.25 - 3.02）和肥胖（比值比：2.15；95%置信区间：1.33 - 3.48）的几率更高。那些目睹犯罪的人粮食安全状况不佳的几率更高（比值比：3.14；95%置信区间：1.82 - 5.41）。在对社会人口统计学特征进行调整后，在食品店接触犯罪与FV摄入量无关。在食品店接触犯罪可能对健康和营养有负面影响。未来的研究应探讨这些影响对受犯罪影响尤为严重的人群的意义。
