Food Resource Management Mediates the Relationship Between Participation in a SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program and Diet Quality.

Abstract Objective To examine the mediating effects of food resource management skills (FRM) on the relationship between participation in a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) nutrition education program and diet quality. Design Secondary analysis of data from a propensity score-matched sample of participants (n = 396) and nonparticipants (n = 111) in a SNAP-Ed nutrition education program. Analysis Independent-samples t tests were used to compare entry, exit, and gain scores in FRM and diet quality between participants and nonparticipants. Structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and mediated relationships among participation, FRM, and diet quality. Main Outcome Measures Food resource management was measured as a summated rating scale, and diet quality measured as Healthy Eating Index and program participation. Results Mediated effect of FRM on the relationship between participation in a SNAP-Ed program and diet quality was statistically significant (P Conclusions and Implications Participation in a SNAP-Ed program enhanced participants’ FRM, which in turn enhanced their diet quality.