Katherine Kent
Biographic Data
| ID | 6191771 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Katherine Kent |
| GIVEN NAMES | Katherine |
| FAMILY NAME | Kent |
| SIGNATURE | KENT K |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Wollongong |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5330-7044 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 19 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2019 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Linking food insecurity to perceptions of food environments and diet quality
Food insecurity is a growing public health concern in Australia; yet, health promotion programs aimed at creating supportive food environments have received limited attention. This study examined how perceptions of the food environment and perceived diet quality differ by food insecurity status, offering insights to guide Ottawa Charter–aligned health promotion strategies in regional Australia. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among …
Income, food expenditure shares, and severe food insecurity in Australia across 21 waves of Hilda
This study aimed to examine the association between household income and severe food insecurity in Australia and to assess how income-related patterns vary across geographic scales. Using 21 waves (2001–2021) of the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, we measured severe food insecurity through reported meal skipping due to financial constraint and food-related economic pressure through the share of household income…
A multimodal evaluation of an Australian university food environment and sustainability practices through student perspectives and a cross-sectional audit
Purpose This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the university food environment at an Australian university by integrating student perspectives with a standardized food environment audit. Design/methodology/approach This study, at Western Sydney University, Australia, combined focus groups and a survey with students (n = 32) to explore their attitudes, preferences and experiences regarding the campus food environment. Thematic analysis was gu…
Predictors and impacts of financial insecurity among university students
Financial insecurity is a significant challenge for university students, affecting both wellbeing and study participation. Guided by a socio-ecological perspective, this study examines financial insecurity among university students as a multi-level issue shaped by individual, institutional, and broader structural conditions. A cross-sectional survey examined the prevalence of financial insecurity among Australian university students and its assoc…
Association between healthiness of community food environments and diet-related health outcomes in regional Australia
The community food environment influences access to healthy and affordable foods and is considered a risk factor for diet-related health outcomes. An ecological approach helps identify links between food environments and health outcomes by generating hypotheses. Evidence is limited and inconsistent, particularly in regional Australia. This study examined the association between community food environment metrics and diet-related health outcomes i…
Hungry for connection
Food insecurity is increasingly recognized as a public health issue with social and psychological dimensions. However, evidence on its association with mental health and social isolation in regional Australia remains limited. A cross-sectional online survey among adults (≥18 years) living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of Australia assessed food insecurity using the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module, categorized into ‘fo…
A qualitative exploration of Australian parental perspectives of commercial squeeze pouches for infants and children
Foods in commercial squeeze pouches are a widely used feeding option for children, yet growing concerns exist about their nutritional quality and impacts on feeding development. There is limited evidence on how and why parents use these products, leaving critical gaps in understanding how to design policy and food environments that support positive nutrition choices. This study aimed to explore Australian parents’ experiences and motivations for …
Positive perceptions and purchase of sustainable foods is associated with higher diet quality in Australian university students
Purpose This study aims to understand university students' perception and engagement with sustainable food practices and the relationship with diet quality. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey assessed Australian university students' sustainable food perceptions and purchasing behaviours, diet quality using the validated Australian Recommended Food Score and attitudes towards on campus sustainable food options. Findings Of respon…
Affordability of Habitual (Unhealthy) and Recommended (Healthy) Diets in the Illawarra Using the Healthy Diets Asap Protocol
Amidst a period of sustained inflation and rising living costs, food insecurity is a growing concern in Australia and is correlated with poor diet quality and increased rates of non-communicable diseases. Currently there is a gap in knowledge of the impact of increasing cost-of-living pressures on the affordability of a healthy diet. As affordability plays a key role in food security, this cross-sectional study aimed to examine the costs, afforda…
A cross-sectional study to “unpack” 5- to 8- year-old children's packed lunches, lunch consumption and lunch waste in vacation care centres
Analysis of the nutritional adequacy of children's lunchboxes in school settings indicates suboptimal food provision. However, the quality and composition of packed lunches for children in alternative settings such as vacation care remains unexplored. This study investigated energy content, macronutrients and waste of 5- to 8-year-old children's lunches in vacation care centres. Participants (n = 130) were recruited from five vacation care centre…
Participation in a community-based food cooperative impacts self-reported food security status and dietary intake in Australian adults
Amid rapid inflation, a growing number of Australians are experiencing challenges affording healthy food, impacting dietary behaviours. Community-based food cooperatives are an emerging alternative to mainstream supermarkets for accessing more affordable, healthy foods. This study explored how participation in a community-based food cooperative (Box Divvy) impacted self-reported food insecurity and fruit and vegetable intake among Australian adul…
Increasing food insecurity severity is associated with lower diet quality
Objective: Food insecurity may reduce diet quality, but the relationship between food insecurity severity and diet quality is under-researched. This study aimed to examine the relationship between diet quality and severity of household food insecurity. Design: A cross-sectional, online survey used the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Six-item Short Form to classify respondents as food secure or marginally, moderatel…
Cutting more than meals
Food insecurity is a prominent social determinant of health. There is evidence of increasing food insecurity in high‐income countries amid inflationary pressures. Yet, we know relatively little about the strategies that people employ to manage food insecurity nor how the severity of food insecurity affects the use of these strategies. Accordingly, this study of a nonprobability convenience online panel sample of 1284 adults in Tasmania assessed f…
Food Supply Impacts and Solutions Associated with the Covid-19 Pandemic
This study aimed to explore how food supply chains were impacted by COVID-19 and identify how the region could be better prepared for future crises. An online survey was completed by 107 consumers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 food supply stakeholders working in food production, distribution, retail, hospitality, institutions (i.e., childcare), logistics/freight and local government. Pre-COVID-19, farmer-direct distribution options …
Consumer-driven strategies towards a resilient and sustainable food system following the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia
The consumer-driven strategies identified indicate multiple opportunities to increase resilience and sustainability in the food system to avoid future supply disruptions. Our findings indicate that considerable popular support for more resilient, local and sustainable food systems may be emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic
Food insecure households faced greater challenges putting healthy food on the table during the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia
Prevalence of food insecurity and satisfaction with on-campus food choices among Australian university students
Purpose Food insecurity and poor access to healthy food is known to compromise tertiary studies in university students, and food choices are linked to student perceptions of the campus food environment. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence, demographic and education characteristics associated with food insecurity in a sample of Australian university students and their satisfaction with on-campus food choices. Design/methodology…
Impacts of Community Resilience on the Implementation of a Mental Health Promotion Program in Rural Australia
Mental health promotion programs are important in rural communities but the factors which influence program effectiveness remain unclear. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to assess how community resilience affected the implementation of a mental health promotion program in rural Tasmania, Australia. Four study communities were selected based on population size, rurality, access to local support services, history of suicide within the commu…
Australian Consumer Perceptions of Regionally Grown Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are a cornerstone of a balanced diet; their consumption has health, environmental, ethical, and economic implications. This pilot study aimed to: (i) measure fruit and vegetable consumption; (ii) understand consumer perceptions of the perceived importance of regionally grown fresh fruit and vegetables (RGFFV); and (iii) identify the barriers and enablers of access and consumption of RGFFV. The study took place in Tasma…
Food insecure households faced greater challenges putting healthy food on the table during the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia
Cutting more than meals
Food insecurity is a prominent social determinant of health. There is evidence of increasing food insecurity in high‐income countries amid inflationary pressures. Yet, we know relatively little about the strategies that people employ to manage food insecurity nor how the severity of food insecurity affects the use of these strategies. Accordingly, this study of a nonprobability convenience online panel sample of 1284 adults in Tasmania assessed f…
Australian Consumer Perceptions of Regionally Grown Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are a cornerstone of a balanced diet; their consumption has health, environmental, ethical, and economic implications. This pilot study aimed to: (i) measure fruit and vegetable consumption; (ii) understand consumer perceptions of the perceived importance of regionally grown fresh fruit and vegetables (RGFFV); and (iii) identify the barriers and enablers of access and consumption of RGFFV. The study took place in Tasma…
Impacts of Community Resilience on the Implementation of a Mental Health Promotion Program in Rural Australia
Mental health promotion programs are important in rural communities but the factors which influence program effectiveness remain unclear. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to assess how community resilience affected the implementation of a mental health promotion program in rural Tasmania, Australia. Four study communities were selected based on population size, rurality, access to local support services, history of suicide within the commu…
Prevalence of food insecurity and satisfaction with on-campus food choices among Australian university students
Purpose Food insecurity and poor access to healthy food is known to compromise tertiary studies in university students, and food choices are linked to student perceptions of the campus food environment. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence, demographic and education characteristics associated with food insecurity in a sample of Australian university students and their satisfaction with on-campus food choices. Design/methodology…
Food Supply Impacts and Solutions Associated with the Covid-19 Pandemic
This study aimed to explore how food supply chains were impacted by COVID-19 and identify how the region could be better prepared for future crises. An online survey was completed by 107 consumers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 food supply stakeholders working in food production, distribution, retail, hospitality, institutions (i.e., childcare), logistics/freight and local government. Pre-COVID-19, farmer-direct distribution options …
Consumer-driven strategies towards a resilient and sustainable food system following the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia
The consumer-driven strategies identified indicate multiple opportunities to increase resilience and sustainability in the food system to avoid future supply disruptions. Our findings indicate that considerable popular support for more resilient, local and sustainable food systems may be emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic
Food insecure households faced greater challenges putting healthy food on the table during the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia
Increasing food insecurity severity is associated with lower diet quality
Objective: Food insecurity may reduce diet quality, but the relationship between food insecurity severity and diet quality is under-researched. This study aimed to examine the relationship between diet quality and severity of household food insecurity. Design: A cross-sectional, online survey used the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Six-item Short Form to classify respondents as food secure or marginally, moderatel…
Cutting more than meals
Food insecurity is a prominent social determinant of health. There is evidence of increasing food insecurity in high‐income countries amid inflationary pressures. Yet, we know relatively little about the strategies that people employ to manage food insecurity nor how the severity of food insecurity affects the use of these strategies. Accordingly, this study of a nonprobability convenience online panel sample of 1284 adults in Tasmania assessed f…
Hungry for connection
Food insecurity is increasingly recognized as a public health issue with social and psychological dimensions. However, evidence on its association with mental health and social isolation in regional Australia remains limited. A cross-sectional online survey among adults (≥18 years) living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of Australia assessed food insecurity using the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module, categorized into ‘fo…
A qualitative exploration of Australian parental perspectives of commercial squeeze pouches for infants and children
Foods in commercial squeeze pouches are a widely used feeding option for children, yet growing concerns exist about their nutritional quality and impacts on feeding development. There is limited evidence on how and why parents use these products, leaving critical gaps in understanding how to design policy and food environments that support positive nutrition choices. This study aimed to explore Australian parents’ experiences and motivations for …
Positive perceptions and purchase of sustainable foods is associated with higher diet quality in Australian university students
Purpose This study aims to understand university students' perception and engagement with sustainable food practices and the relationship with diet quality. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey assessed Australian university students' sustainable food perceptions and purchasing behaviours, diet quality using the validated Australian Recommended Food Score and attitudes towards on campus sustainable food options. Findings Of respon…
Affordability of Habitual (Unhealthy) and Recommended (Healthy) Diets in the Illawarra Using the Healthy Diets Asap Protocol
Amidst a period of sustained inflation and rising living costs, food insecurity is a growing concern in Australia and is correlated with poor diet quality and increased rates of non-communicable diseases. Currently there is a gap in knowledge of the impact of increasing cost-of-living pressures on the affordability of a healthy diet. As affordability plays a key role in food security, this cross-sectional study aimed to examine the costs, afforda…
A cross-sectional study to “unpack” 5- to 8- year-old children's packed lunches, lunch consumption and lunch waste in vacation care centres
Analysis of the nutritional adequacy of children's lunchboxes in school settings indicates suboptimal food provision. However, the quality and composition of packed lunches for children in alternative settings such as vacation care remains unexplored. This study investigated energy content, macronutrients and waste of 5- to 8-year-old children's lunches in vacation care centres. Participants (n = 130) were recruited from five vacation care centre…
Participation in a community-based food cooperative impacts self-reported food security status and dietary intake in Australian adults
Amid rapid inflation, a growing number of Australians are experiencing challenges affording healthy food, impacting dietary behaviours. Community-based food cooperatives are an emerging alternative to mainstream supermarkets for accessing more affordable, healthy foods. This study explored how participation in a community-based food cooperative (Box Divvy) impacted self-reported food insecurity and fruit and vegetable intake among Australian adul…
Linking food insecurity to perceptions of food environments and diet quality
Food insecurity is a growing public health concern in Australia; yet, health promotion programs aimed at creating supportive food environments have received limited attention. This study examined how perceptions of the food environment and perceived diet quality differ by food insecurity status, offering insights to guide Ottawa Charter–aligned health promotion strategies in regional Australia. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among …
Income, food expenditure shares, and severe food insecurity in Australia across 21 waves of Hilda
This study aimed to examine the association between household income and severe food insecurity in Australia and to assess how income-related patterns vary across geographic scales. Using 21 waves (2001–2021) of the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, we measured severe food insecurity through reported meal skipping due to financial constraint and food-related economic pressure through the share of household income…
A multimodal evaluation of an Australian university food environment and sustainability practices through student perspectives and a cross-sectional audit
Purpose This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the university food environment at an Australian university by integrating student perspectives with a standardized food environment audit. Design/methodology/approach This study, at Western Sydney University, Australia, combined focus groups and a survey with students (n = 32) to explore their attitudes, preferences and experiences regarding the campus food environment. Thematic analysis was gu…
Predictors and impacts of financial insecurity among university students
Financial insecurity is a significant challenge for university students, affecting both wellbeing and study participation. Guided by a socio-ecological perspective, this study examines financial insecurity among university students as a multi-level issue shaped by individual, institutional, and broader structural conditions. A cross-sectional survey examined the prevalence of financial insecurity among Australian university students and its assoc…
Association between healthiness of community food environments and diet-related health outcomes in regional Australia
The community food environment influences access to healthy and affordable foods and is considered a risk factor for diet-related health outcomes. An ecological approach helps identify links between food environments and health outcomes by generating hypotheses. Evidence is limited and inconsistent, particularly in regional Australia. This study examined the association between community food environment metrics and diet-related health outcomes i…
Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations (11 works) · Medicine (10 works) · Environmental health (9 works) · Food insecurity (9 works) · Business (8 works) · Food security (8 works) · Agriculture (6 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Urban Agriculture and Sustainability (6 works) · Marketing (5 works)