Hostname: page-component-77f85d65b8-pztms Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-03-30T06:43:27.475Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Understanding socio-economic inequalities in food choice behaviour: can Maslow's pyramid help?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2015

Frank J. van Lenthe*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Tessa Jansen
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Carlijn B. M. Kamphuis
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
*
* Corresponding author: Dr F. J. v. Lenthe, email f.vanlenthe@erasmusmc.nl
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Socio-economic groups differ in their material, living, working and social circumstances, which may result in different priorities about their daily-life needs, including the priority to make healthy food choices. Following Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, we hypothesised that socio-economic inequalities in healthy food choices can be explained by differences in the levels of need fulfilment. Postal survey data collected in 2011 (67·2 % response) from 2903 participants aged 20–75 years in the Dutch GLOBE (Gezondheid en Levens Omstandigheden Bevolking Eindhoven en omstreken) study were analysed. Maslow's hierarchy of human needs (measured with the Basic Need Satisfaction Inventory) was added to age- and sex-adjusted linear regression models that linked education and net household income levels to healthy food choices (measured by a FFQ). Most participants (38·6 %) were in the self-actualisation layer of the pyramid. This proportion was highest among the highest education group (47·6 %). Being in a higher level of the hierarchy was associated with a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as more healthy than unhealthy bread, snack and dairy consumption. Educational inequalities in fruit and vegetable intake (B= − 1·79, 95 % CI − 2·31, − 1·28 in the lowest education group) were most reduced after the hierarchy of needs score was included (B= − 1·57, 95 % CI − 2·09, − 1·05). Inequalities in other healthy food choices hardly changed after the hierarchy of needs score was included. People who are satisfied with higher-level needs make healthier food choices. Studies aimed at understanding socio-economic inequalities in food choice behaviour need to take differences in the priority given to daily-life needs by different socio-economic groups into account, but Maslow's pyramid offers little help.

Information

Type
Full Papers
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2015 
Figure 0

Table 1 Sample characteristics of analytic sample of participants in the 2011 GLOBE (Gezondheid en Levens Omstandigheden Bevolking Eindhoven en omstreken) study in the Netherlands (Number of participants and percentages)

Figure 1

Table 2 Regression coefficients for educational inequalities in food outcomes and the Basic Need Satisfaction Inventory (BNSI) pyramid of the hierarchy of needs (B coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals)

Figure 2

Table 3 Regression coefficients for income inequalities in food outcomes and the Basic Need Satisfaction Inventory (BNSI) pyramid of the hierarchy of needs (B coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals)