title: Corner stores: the perspective of urban youth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the perspectives of low-income, urban youth about the corner store experience to inform the development of corner store interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were conducted to understand youth perceptions regarding their early shopping experiences, the process of store selection, reasons for shopping in a corner store, parental guidance about corner stores, and what their ideal, or "dream corner store" would look like. Thematic analysis was employed to identify themes using ATLAS.ti (version 6.1, 2010, ATLAS.ti GmbH) and Excel (version 2010, Microsoft Corp).
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were conducted in nine kindergarten-through-grade 8 (K-8) public schools in low-income neighborhoods with 40 fourth- to sixth-graders with a mean age of 10.9±0.8 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youth report going to corner stores with family members at an early age. By second and third grades, a growing number of youth reported shopping unaccompanied by an older sibling or adult. Youth reported that the products sold in stores were the key reason they choose a specific store. A small number of youth said their parents offered guidance on their corner store purchases. When youth were asked what their dream corner store would look like, they mentioned wanting a combination of healthy and less-healthy foods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that, among low-income, urban youth, corner store shopping starts at a very young age and that product, price, and location are key factors that affect corner store selection. The data also suggest that few parents offer guidance about corner store purchases, and youth are receptive to having healthier items in corner stores. Corner store intervention efforts should target young children and their parents/caregivers and aim to increase the availability of affordable, healthier products.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Sherman
authors: Gabrielle
authors: G
authors: Grode
authors: Tara
authors: T
authors: McCoy
authors: Stephanie S
authors: SS
authors: Vander Veur
authors: Alexis
authors: A
authors: Wojtanowski
authors: Brianna Almaguer
authors: BA
authors: Sandoval
authors: Gary D
authors: GD
authors: Foster
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005518:Food Preferences; D005523:Food Supply; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D015143:Philadelphia; D011203:Poverty; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Corner store; Low-income; Snacking; Urban; Youth