Barriers and Facilitators to Online Grocery Shopping Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participants: A Mixed Method Study

Ecol Food Nutr. 2024 Sep-Oct;63(5):585-604. doi: 10.1080/03670244.2024.2392557. Epub 2024 Aug 18.

Abstract

This mixed methods study explored online grocery shopping perceptions by surveying individuals who do and do not receive SNAP benefits (n = 129) and by conducting interviews with SNAP recipients (n = 26) who have grocery shopped online. T-tests assessed survey findings, codebook thematic analysis was used to identify qualitative themes, and results were interpreted collectively. Survey results found no differences in perceptions of online grocery shopping between SNAP and non-SNAP recipients (p-values = 0.2-1.0) and that 97% of SNAP recipients felt comfortable using SNAP online. Five qualitative themes were identified and provided context to the survey results. The study findings can inform policy actions within SNAP.

Keywords: Food retail; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); grocery shopping; mixed methods; online.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Female
  • Food Assistance*
  • Food Supply
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Supermarkets
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult