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Community Cafes as a Health Promotion Model: Evidence on Food Security, Diet, and Social Well-Being

delete2026-07-28
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PRE
AI
X
Xingguo Wang
R
Rodolfo Nayga
L
Lori Borchers
H
Heather Eicher-Miller
R
Rebecca A. Seguin‐Fowler
J
Jacob Szeszulski
A
Alexandra L. MacMillan Uribe
DOI:10.1177/08901171261473018delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
<jats:sec> <jats:title>Purpose</jats:title> <jats:p>This study examined whether the frequency and duration of participation in community cafes—nonprofit, pay-what-you-can restaurants—are associated with food security, dietary improvement, and psychosocial well-being among adult patrons.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Design</jats:title> <jats:p>Cross-sectional, multi-site observational study using an instrumental-variables regression framework to reduce selection bias.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Setting</jats:title> <jats:p>Eleven community cafes operating under the pay-what-you-can model across the U.S.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Sample</jats:title> <jats:p>The analytic sample included 137 adult patrons who had eaten at a cafe within the past month (65% female, 65.7% White).</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Measures</jats:title> <jats:p>Primary exposures were the frequency of cafe meals and the duration since first visit. Outcomes included food security (USDA six-item module), self-reported dietary improvement, social connectedness, and loneliness. Covariates included gender, race, and cafe site fixed effects.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Analysis</jats:title> <jats:p> Two-stage instrumental-variable regression models used geographic distance as an instrument for cafe participation. Logistic regression estimated odds of food security, and linear models examined continuous outcomes ( <jats:italic toggle="yes">P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). Estimates are interpreted as local effects for patrons whose participation is influenced by access. </jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Longer duration since first cafe visit was associated with higher odds of being food secure (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.21-7.09). No significant associations were observed for dietary or psychosocial outcomes.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title> <jats:p>Sustained engagement in cafes is associated with a greater likelihood of being food secure, indicating the importance of long-term participation in dignity-based health promotion strategies.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Journal

A
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION
IF:
2.4
Papers:
190
Citations:
0

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