Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Date of Award
12-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Mark H. Winkel
Second Advisor
Dr. Valerie James-Aldridge
Third Advisor
Dr. Frederick A. Ernst
Abstract
This study focused on the relationship between environmental setting, eating choices and food intake. Ten Swiss Webster female subjects were socially housed under impoverished environmental conditions and ten under enriched housing conditions. Subjects were exposed to a nutritious food and sweet fat-laden food diet together with ad lib access to regular tap water on a 12 h light and dark cycle for four weeks. Results showed that an impoverished environment does not lead to an increase in body weight (t(6)= 0.293, p > .05) and environmental manipulations do not delineate a preference for diet type (t(6)= .877, p >.05). Further research should address food choice and selection in different environments with differing tasting diets (i.e. sweet, salty, sour, neutral) and different fluid intake options to determine whether a pattern in consumption is related to preferred taste or caloric regulation and weight management on a biological basis.
Granting Institution
University of Texas-Pan American
Comments
Copyright 2011 Berenice Martínez. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/enriched-vs-impoverished-housing-food-choice/docview/922994577/se-2