One main focus of the section “nutrition security” of the Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU) of Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, is the analysis of the causes and effects of food insecurity and of deficiency and malnutrition in developing and transforming countries and also of poverty groups in western society. Research is based on a livelihood system approach that is meant to mirror the complexity of food security and nutrition in an extensive context. Researchers examine the food supply, nutritional situation, and behavior at the microeconomic level as explained by the households and families with regard to food insecurity and coping strategies. A primary focus is the intrahousehold dynamic from a gender perspective, with a regional focus on Africa. Nutrition scientists with a socioeconomic expertise are working on the projects described in this article. This outlook indicates that international development cooperation is needed to strengthen research with households.

The purpose of this study was twofold: To provide an updated profile of rental real estate investors and to investigate household characteristics associated with investment in rental real estate prior to the Great Recession. Based on the Life Cycle Hypothesis of Savings, analyses were conducted using data from the 2004 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Multivariate results indicated that household net worth was the most significant correlate of rental real estate ownership. Controlling for demographic and economic factors, Black householders were more likely to own rental property than White householders, and householders aged 55–64 years were more likely to own rental property than householders aged 25–34 years Homeowners and those who were housing-cost burdened on their primary homes were more likely to own rental property. The result showing that housing-cost burdened homeowners were more likely to own rental real estate compared with those who were not housing-cost burdened raises questions about overreliance on real estate as an investment prior to the Great Recession.

The purpose of this study was to examine how multiple age identities—chronological, ideal, and feel ages—influence social comparison with media images, body satisfaction, and appearance self-discrepancy. Building on the possible selves theory that a closer approximation between chronological age and subjective ages—ideal age and feel age—occurs over time, a conceptual model was tested to identify individual variations of age identities and self-perceptions to body image across the life span. A convenience sample of 279 women between the ages of 30 and 80 years completed the survey at several women's philanthropic and social organizations. Findings indicated that ideal age, rather than chronological age and feel age, played a more important role in influencing participants' perceptions of body and social comparison as their age identities changed. The findings highlight the significance of multiple age identities in predicting social comparison behavior and body image among women across the life span.

This study examined the gap between planning and doing among 3,666 future orienters in the 2010 Survey of Consumer Finances. Future orienters were those who expected at least one foreseeable major expense in 5–10 years. A theory of planned behavior cumulative logistic model testing saving implementation as a strategy was rejected. Then a multinomial logistic regression was estimated. The odds to be currently saving or to have already saved were higher for those with longer planning horizons, moderate risk tolerance, those who were married, White people, blue-collar workers, and those with self-discipline in spending and saving habits. A favorable attitude toward installment credit increased the likelihood of not saving. The number rather than the type of expense was more influential in saving although health, family, and general purchases decreased the odds of saving. Attitudes, norms, and behavior control helped explain a lack of saving among future orienters.

During the last decade, lighting has become energy efficient across most sectors in the United States. However, the residential sector shows the least efficiency in lighting because of the use of incandescent lighting. To understand the reason for the slow growth in the adoption of energy-efficient residential lighting, this study identified factors influencing the purchase of energy-efficient lighting products, the willingness to pay more for energy-efficient lighting, and support for policies that ban the use of inefficient lighting in the home. Through systematic random sampling, a mail survey was conducted with homeowners in the Midwest region of the United States. The final sample consisted of 307 respondents. Factor analyses and three multiple regression analyses were conducted. The results revealed that residents' adoption of energy-efficient lighting was predicted by their attitude toward the environment and toward energy-efficient lighting, habitual energy-saving behavior, and their perception of the quality of energy-efficient lighting products.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental 4-week study was to examine the effects of a nutrition-education intervention on perceptions about increasing whole-grain food consumption and self-efficacy in choosing and preparing foods that include whole grains. The theoretical framework was the social cognitive theory. The sample included 205 food pantry clients who participated in the study and 204 food pantry clients who were the control group. The 205 participants tasted a chicken-and-whole-grain pasta dish and then were given the ingredients and invited to prepare the recipe at home. The 204 members of the control group did not receive the intervention. Food pantry clients in the intervention group completed verbal interviews before the intervention and 1 week and 1 month after the intervention. Both perception of whole-grain consumption and self-efficacy improved significantly for the intervention group compared with the control group. The results suggest that nutrition education consisting of tasting a food followed by preparing it at home can influence perceptions about eating more whole-grain foods and self-efficacy in choosing and preparing foods that include whole grains.

The purpose of this paper is to help authors succeed in preparing and submitting their manuscripts for publication. First, the characteristics that distinguish qualitative and quantitative research are reviewed. Then, suggestions for developing research skills are presented. This is followed by specific comments about manuscript preparation and submission.