The study aims to assess how financial education on the differences between active and passive mutual funds, their costs, and the concept of time diversification can shape investor preferences. A sample of (around) 1,000 Italian residents participated in a quasi-experimental Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), in which a control group was compared to different treatment groups exposed to similar (though not identical) financial education interventions. The results show that financial education can not only increase financial literacy but also influence the investment decisions of those who develop a better understanding of these products.
I am a Professor of Finance from the University of Rome (Italy) and my main research interests are on consumer finance, financial literacy, and financial education.
Time, money, and health are vital resources that shape individual and family well-being. This project, developed during the pandemic, was designed to help people make rational decisions as a pathway to long-term success. Drawing on more than five years of data, the project surveyed 223 college students in a Mid-Western urban university. The researchers employed descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses to identify key patterns on of college student time, money, health, and how these patterns are related to their economic wellbeing. The findings indicated the college students have a stronger time management skill than health and wealth management skills. The study also demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between time and health, health and money, money and time. These findings provide insights to inform the design of future educational programs, guide further scholarly research, and inspire policy innovation aimed at enhancing consumer and family economic well-being. Based on 5 years data from this project, the researchers analyze the data to report descriptive, correlations and regression results.
Author(s): Baomei Zhao, Xin Liangactions, Pamela Schulze, Timothy McCarragher, Becky Thomas, Jinjing Wang, Jennifer Davisactions, Robert Terry, Joann Xi
We study anchoring effects and loss aversion in the Non-Fungible Token market using comprehensive user-auction data from CryptoPunks. Using the last period’s transaction price as the reference point, we separately measure anchoring effects and loss aversion for sellers and bidders. Our findings reveal that both sellers and bidders exhibit loss aversion, though the magnitude of loss aversion is significantly smaller for bidders. The analysis also confirms the presence of anchoring effects in both groups, with bidders displaying weaker effects than sellers, possibly due to signaling dynamics. Furthermore, we show that negotiations between sellers and bidders result in an intermediate level of loss aversion, falling between their individual measured levels. We also test whether experience influences loss aversion within both groups. For sellers, greater experience mitigates loss aversion, whereas for bidders, the results are mixed, with some evidence suggesting that experience may even increase their loss aversion in the NFT market.
Unlike other professionals who work from home, family childcare providers share their homes with the children they serve, parents who bring in their children, and, in some cases, additional employees. Because their home serves both their business and private lives, physical boundaries can blur unless the provider, their family, and individuals who enter the home for any reason are all clear about such boundaries. The purpose of this study is to describe 1) how those operating family childcare businesses in their homes negotiate physical boundaries between their business and home lives and 2) how the physical boundary setting is associated with perceived well-being among providers. The preliminary findings suggest creating physical boundaries is one way that families operating businesses in their homes manage time, space, and available objects to promote well-being.
This paper introduces asystems-based conceptual frameworkto map and analyze behavioral externalities of AI in consumer finance. The goal is to advance scholarly understanding of how technology interacts with consumer psychology, regulatory environments, and market structures. Traditional economic notions of externalities focus on quantifiable costs or benefits that fall outside the primary transaction. This paper extends that concept to includebehavioral spillovers: non-market interactions that subtly erode financial literacy, autonomy, and fairness. Current research on AI in finance focuses largely on technical metrics of accuracy and efficiency or macroeconomic outcomes (Barocas et al., 2023; Sunstein, 2024). Yet, the daily experience of end-users engaging with AI-powered tools reveals patterns of disengagement, dependency, overconfidence, or exclusion that are poorly captured by these lenses. A systems view helps bridge this gap by considering technology, human behavior, and institutional design as interconnected and evolving.
This study explores the lived experiences of Black women executives in the U.S. hospitality industry, focusing on career advancement, systemic barriers, support systems, and sense of belonging. Despite representing approximately 11% of the accommodation and foodservice workforce, Black women account for only 0.2% of executive positions. Using narrative inquiry, the study privileges participants’ voices to illuminate how overlapping identities of race and gender shape leadership trajectories. Data will be collected through two rounds of semi-structured interviews and optional written reflections with approximately 10 executives across lodging, foodservice, events, and tourism. Guided by Intersectionality Theory and Sense of Belonging Theory, the research examines both structural inequities (mentorship, sponsorship, organizational culture) and relational dynamics (inclusion, microaggressions, belonging cues). Preliminary pilot interviews indicate that sponsorship gaps, exclusion from informal networks, and conditional belonging are central challenges. Findings will inform organizational practices that advance equity, strengthen retention, and improve consumer experiences. By addressing an understudied population in hospitality leadership, the study contributes new insights for workforce development, policy, and consumer well-being.
Clinical Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University
Hospitality leader turned educator, currently serving as a Clinical Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University. After years in hotel leadership, I now focus on preparing the next generation of hospitality professionals through education, high-impact experiential learning, and... Read More →
This study examines whether structured explanations can overcome the negativity bias in consumer trust recovery following algorithmic errors in digital financial advisory services. Using a three-round experimental design with 294 participants, we tested a temporal trust dynamics framework comprising trust formation, single-error shock, and post-error repair stages. Results demonstrate that brief post-error explanations achieved substantial trust recovery, restoring 79-92% of initial trust damage across trust, satisfaction, and reliance measures. Financial literacy moderated these effects, with high-literacy participants showing 15-20% greater recovery levels. Round-by-explanation interactions were significant for all outcomes, confirming that explanations can quantitatively reverse negativity bias effects. Recovery Ratio analyses provide concrete benchmarks for financial service providers, suggesting a minimum restoration rate of 80% as performance targets. These findings have significant implications for consumer protection policy and financial service design, demonstrating that effective error management can maintain consumer confidence, prevent costly switching behaviors, and protect family economic well-being.
This study uses canonical correlation analysis and the 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) to discover the potential relationship between investment product types and 1) information sources, 2) market regulation, and 3) financial and investment knowledge when investors make investment decisions.
This study examines how digital literacy shapes consumers’ use of AI-based services in finance and health. Drawing on data from the 2023 Intelligent Information Society User Panel Survey conducted by the Korea Communications Commission, we analyze responses from 4,581 individuals aged 15 to 69 in Korea. Six sub-dimensions of digital literacy—daily-life, rights protection, critical understanding, production & sharing, social participation, and security—are assessed through self-reported measures. Binary logistic regression and U-shape tests reveal that the effects of literacy are domain-specific and non-linear.In finance, daily-life, rights protection, and production & sharing literacy are positively associated with adoption, whereas security literacy shows no significant effect. In health, security and rights protection literacy are positively associated, whereas critical understanding literacy is negatively related. Notably, social participation literacy follows an inverted U-shape, with moderate levels linked to greater adoption.These results imply that the benefits of AI-based services are not distributed evenly but vary according to the different dimensions of digital literacy and suggest that existing policies centered solely on enhancing access to digital technologies may be insufficient.
Author(s): Youngwon Nam, Jin-Myong Lee, Kyuri Hong
Associate Professor, Consumer Studies, Virginia Tech
I teach consumer studies and advise undergraduate students at Virginia Tech. Earlier in my career I worked in Cooperative Extension for about 15 years. I have been a member of ACCI for over 30 years and was President of ACCI, 2016-17. I'm also active in the Consumer Federation of... Read More →
Cryptocurrency is often promoted as a tool for financial inclusion, particularly for individuals who are unbanked or financially vulnerable. This paper evaluates that assumption using nationally representative survey data from over 47,000 U.S. adults across multiple years. We estimate random-effects logistic regression models to examine four types of cryptocurrency use: investment, payments, transfers, and any use. We test how usage varies by banking status, financial vulnerability, financial literacy, and key demographic and socioeconomic factors. Contrary to popular narratives, we find that unbanked individuals are significantly less likely to use cryptocurrency, even after controlling for income, education, and financial literacy. Financially vulnerable respondents are also less likely to engage with crypto across most use types. Instead, cryptocurrency use is most common among younger, male, employed, college-educated individuals, especially Black Americans. While financial literacy and income interact in some contexts, their effects are inconsistent. The dominant predictors of cryptocurrency use remain age, gender, race, and education. Overall, our results suggest that cryptocurrency adoption in the U.S. is not being driven by economic exclusion but rather by more financially and digitally integrated populations, challenging claims that crypto is currently serving as an alternative for the underserved.
This study examines the relationship between natural-disaster risk and households’ contingency financial strategies and assess whether financial capability moderates those relationships. Using the 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), matched geographically to FEMA’s National Risk Index (NRI), this study tests whether residents in higher-risk areas are more likely to use short-term, high-cost borrowing (e.g., payday loans, cash advances) or maintain emergency savings, and whether perceived money management ability (PMMA) and objective financial knowledge moderate these financial behaviors.
I present evidence on the relationship between immigrant co-country-of-origin enclave exposure and public benefit participation among mixed-status households following the 2018 public charge rule announcement. Specifically, I estimate the effects of residential enclave exposure on SNAP and Medicaid enrollment using a triple differences strategy, exploiting variation between enclave exposure, household immigration status, and temporal changes before and after the policy shift. Immigrant populations often form strong social ties and tend to cluster in specific geographic areas, a pattern well-documented in prior research. These self-selected communities create informal social networks that have been shown to shape both positive and negative economic outcomes, such as differences in income, banking behavior, and occupational choices. Building on models of information diffusion, I examine how immigrant households respond to a major policy shock: the public charge rule change. Since non-citizens were the only group directly affected, the analysis isolates three levels of impact: individual level, household level, and community level. This study highlights the multi-layered consequences of policy shocks on immigrant communities and underscores the importance of considering enclave dynamics when evaluating access to public programs.
This research examines eligible taxpayers' characteristics and barriers when filing tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families. Despite the potential benefits of EITC, the IRS consistently reports that close to 19.2 percent of eligible taxpayers fail to claim it. The study compared tax return filers' and non-filers' characteristics using survey data from 559 EITC-eligible respondents across two waves of Tax Years 2017–2019 and Tax Year 2020. Findings showed significant differences across demographic, health, and psychological factors. Tax return filers exhibited better overall well-being, including better physical and mental health, hope, and life satisfaction than non-filers. Conversely, non-filers consistently reported higher food and housing insecurity, along with higher levels of loneliness and depression. Unexpectedly, non-filers reported higher financial self-efficacy and subjective financial knowledge, suggesting potential overconfidence.
Author(s): Catherine Asiimwe, Lance Palmer, Travis Mountain, Wil Golden
Student parents, defined as students enrolled in a degree or certificate program who provide more than half of the financial support for a dependent child, represent one of the most vulnerable populations in higher education. They face compounded challenges including childcare costs, housing instability, and financial strain, which contribute to disproportionately low persistence and degree completion rates. While their heightened financial needs are well documented, little research has explored their levels of financial literacy or their use of financial and academic support resources. This study seeks to examine the financial literacy, challenges, and resource utilization of student parents at a four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution on the West Coast. A survey will be administered to expecting parents and student parents with at least one dependent child. The survey includes demographic questions, measures of financial literacy using the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Financial Well-Being Scale, and open-ended questions on financial and academic support needs. The study is expected to reveal student parents’ financial literacy and the gap between what resources student parents need and what resources are available. Findings will inform the development of tailored financial literacy and academic support programs designed to improve financial stability and educational persistence of student parents.
This study examines the structural and behavioral barriers to investment participation in the United States. Using nationally representative data from the Survey of Consumer Finances, the National Financial Capability Study, and the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, it investigates how liquidity constraints interact with institutional trust and social trust to shape investment behavior. The research highlights that financial inclusion extends beyond access to banking and credit, particularly in the context of rising housing costs, wage stagnation, and growing wealth inequality. It considers how demographic factors such as gender, education, and occupational class moderate these relationships and examines how localized trust shocks, such as banking scandals or fraud events, influence participation. The findings will provide evidence to inform policy and practice that moves beyond access toward fostering meaningful participation in financial markets for all households.
Amid growing concerns over the climate crisis, this study examines how agency framing shapes consumers’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB) when different types of costs are involved. Drawing on cost–benefit theory, we distinguish between financial costs, such as higher expenses, and effort costs, such as time and psychological and physical investment. An online survey was conducted with 210 Korean parents in their 40s, randomly assigned to personal agency (I-frame) or interpersonal agency (we-frame) conditions. Respondents evaluated PEB scenarios in terms of perceived effectiveness, delayed trap, perceived benefits, and perceived burden. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived benefit was a consistent predictor of both financial and effort cost PEB intentions, while perceived effectiveness additionally predicted effort-cost PEB. Interaction effects further showed that perceived benefit exerted a stronger positive influence on effort-cost PEB under we-framing, whereas delayed trap influenced financial-cost PEB positively under I-framing but negatively under we-framing. These findings demonstrate that cost type and agency framing jointly shape consumer intentions. The study contributes by highlighting agency as a mechanism that extends discussions of PEB beyond altruism to consumer empowerment and well-being, and offers practical guidance for tailoring communication strategies to promote sustainable behavior.
As more states adopt personal finance course requirements for high school graduation, it is important to document student access each year as well as trends over time and geography. As more states near the effective date for implemented state graduation requirements, it is especially important to document changes in student access. Seven states are set to implement their graduation requirement for graduating classes of 2026 and 2027. In addition to states with new graduating classes required to complete a personal finance course, states with fully implemented graduation requirements have in some cases rolled back student access. The present study documents these changes in student access over time that arise from implementation of these state laws on the ground with data at the course level.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming consumer finance, education, and health systems, influencing everyday decision-making and household well-being. Yet, consumers’ ability to understand, evaluate, and apply AI remains limited, creating new risks and challenges. This submission introduces the Scale of Artificial Intelligence Literacy (SAIL), a new instrument designed to measure AI-related competencies in consumer contexts. Developed through a systematic review of 43 scholarly and policy sources, SAIL identifies three core domains of AI literacy: conceptual knowledge of AI, ethical awareness and bias recognition, and applied consumer readiness. A set of 38 draft items has been developed and structured into subscales aligned with these domains, using Likert-type response options. By providing a validated measure of consumer AI literacy, SAIL addresses a critical gap in the literature and offers a foundation for research, education, and practice. The scale enables financial educators, policymakers, and practitioners to assess consumer preparedness, identify vulnerabilities, and design interventions that promote resilience in the digital economy. This work aligns with the mission of the American Council on Consumer Interests (ACCI) to enhance consumer and family well-being in the face of emerging technological change.
This study examines how environmental self-efficacy moderates the relationship between environmental risk perception and pro-environmental behavior, focusing on differences between developing and developed countries. Using data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) 2020 Environment Module, we analyzed responses from 27,255 individuals across 28 countries, classifying them by Human Development Index. Pro-environmental behavior was measured through recycling, avoiding environmentally harmful products, and engaging in eco-friendly actions despite additional costs or time. Perceived agricultural and atmospheric environmental risks served as independent variables, while self-efficacy was tested as a moderator. Results reveal that in developing countries, agricultural risk perception significantly predicts pro-environmental behavior, particularly when reinforced by self-efficacy, whereas atmospheric risks play a weaker role. In developed countries, self-efficacy emerged as the strongest predictor, amplifying the influence of agricultural risk but dampening that of atmospheric risk. Across both contexts, simultaneous perceptions of high agricultural and atmospheric risks produced a dampening effect rather than a cumulative one. These findings extend the Risk Perception Attitude Framework to environmental contexts, emphasizing the critical role of self-efficacy in translating risk perception into action. The study offers practical insights for tailoring climate change communication and policy strategies to national contexts.
Adolescence is a critical stage in which socioeconomic adversity becomes embedded in developmental processes and may extend into adulthood. This study examines multidimensional deprivation among adolescents in Seoul, South Korea, a context marked by intense educational competition and stark housing and neighborhood inequalities. Using data from the 2023 Seoul Child and Adolescent Survey (N=704), we applied Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify distinct deprivation profiles and logistic regression to assess their association with economic stress. Results revealed four classes: Non-deprived (68.8%), Living-environment deprived (16.3%), Educational–economic deprived (4.6%), and Multidimensional non-monetary deprived (10.3%). Notably, while income-based measures identified only 9.4% of adolescents as deprived, LCA uncovered 31.2% experiencing disadvantages through non-monetary pathways. Logistic regression showed that compared to the non-deprived group, adolescents in Classes 1, 2, and 4 were significantly more likely to report economic stress (odds ratios 1.8, 2.9, and 2.3 respectively). These findings highlight that non-monetary deprivation—such as deficits in housing, neighborhood, or education—can generate psychosocial stress at levels comparable to income poverty. Policies focusing solely on financial transfers may be insufficient; effective interventions must also address structural inequalities in housing, education, and neighborhood environments to promote adolescent well-being.
This study investigates how post-pandemic education pathways can be associated with financial responsibility and mental health among emerging adults aged 18–25. Using the 2021 Panel Study of Income Dynamics and its Transition into Adulthood Supplement, this study showed that financial responsbility and mental health outcomes varied significantly acorss education pathways. Education pathways were significantly associated with both finanical responsibility and mental health of emerging adults.
Overspending, defined as spending beyond one’s financial capacity, increases debt and reduces household financial stability (Achtziger et al., 2022). In today’s digital economy, social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook amplify overspending through targeted advertising, peer consumption cues, and influencer promotions. These features heighten impulsive purchasing and financial vulnerability, especially among younger adults (Sotiropoulos & d’Astous, 2012; Tippmann, 2023). Motivations also vary across the life course: younger consumers often overspend to establish identity or status, whereas older adults may overspend to maintain lifestyles or manage stress (Parnes, 2019). With older generations increasingly active on social media (Minu et al., 2023), this study examines whether the relationship between social media use and overspending differs across generational cohorts in the United States, using nationally representative data from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS).
Although the U.S. unemployment rate decreased from 14.7% in April 2020 to 4% in January 2025, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025), the consumer confidence index has not yet fully recovered (The Conference Board, 2025). One possible explanation is that COVID-19 served as a stressor (Kelley et al., 2022), leading families to closely monitor their finances and subsequently experience increased financial anxiety (Kim, 2021). Thus, to address the ongoing financial uncertainty, it is necessary to understand the roles of economic hardship and financial resilience in the context of post-financial distress. Adapting from the financial resilience framework (Salignac et al., 2019), the current research aims to navigate (1) the extent to which economic hardship and each financial resilience factor are associated with both financial stress and financial anxiety in the post-pandemic period and examine (2) differences in the effect of financial resilience on financial stress and financial anxiety. Financial resilience has two parts. The first is to utilize internal capabilities. The second is to examine the external supports available and appropriate when facing economic hardship (Salignac et al., 2019). The financial resilience framework consists of four domains: economic resources, financial resources, financial knowledge, and social capital.
Ph.D. candidate, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Hello, I am a Ph.D. candidate in Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota with both quantitative expertise, including machine learning, and qualitative research experience. I will be on the job market next summer (expected graduation in May 2027)
I am particularly interested in the following topics: (a) the influence of financial capability on long-term health outcomes, (b) financial management within couples using dyadic data, (c) the gender gap in financial capability, and (d) childfree couples’ financial management and... Read More →
The research investigates how financial literacy affects household emergency savings maintenance when inflation rates are high. The study analyzes National Financial Capability Study data to determine if better financial knowledge leads to sufficient savings and evaluates if this protective effect remains stable when inflation reduces the value of money. The research fills an essential knowledge gap about how people maintain financial stability during times of economic hardship. The research provides evidence-based recommendations to policymakers and financial educators about how literacy protects family economic stability. The research helps consumer policy development by showing how financial capability acts as a protective measure against economic shocks which strengthens national financial stability.
This study explores impact of storytelling and narrative framing on the intention to meet with an estate planning professional to discuss revocable trusts. Additional factors like trust, industry experience, and personal experience with estate planning will also be included in the analysis. This study collects primary data through a survey tool distributed via CloudResearch. Structural equation modeling (SEM) will be utilized to analyze the impact of narrative on intention to meet with an estate planning professional about a revocable living trust, with regulatory focus acting as a moderating variable. This study is novel in that it focuses on a population of adults between the ages of 25 and 55; most studies address adults at or near retirement. As less than half of Americans have a documented estate plan, revocable trusts offer a unique in that they can serve as a will substitute while addressing incapacity, increasing privacy, and reducing the potential for court intervention. The anticipated results will be of interest to practitioners and educators, expanding understanding of individuals without an estate plan and factors that may impact changing that status.
Author(s): C. Ramel Strong, HanNa Lim, Megan McCoy, Shelitha Smodic
This study examines the role of consumer technology optimism in shaping adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) services across nine domains of daily life, including healthcare, finance, education, media, health management, security, leisure, shopping, and workplace. Drawing on the Technology Readiness Index (TRI), which conceptualizes individual predispositions toward new technologies, the study highlights technology optimism as a key motivator that reflects a positive view of technology and a belief in its ability to enhance control, flexibility, and efficiency. Using nationally representative data from the 2023 Intelligent Information Society User Panel Survey in South Korea (N=4,581), the analysis demonstrates that technology optimism is a consistent and significant predictor of consumers’ intention to use AI services. In addition, digital literacy and trust in service providers were positively associated with adoption intentions, while privacy sensitivity and older age were negatively associated in several domains. These findings underscore the importance of consumer dispositions, alongside technological attributes, in explaining AI service adoption. The study contributes to advancing theoretical understanding of consumer adoption processes and provides practical insights for promoting equitable and welfare-enhancing integration of AI services in everyday life.
Student loan borrowers often face mental health challenges, including anxiety and stress, but struggle to find adequate support due to high treatment costs, limited access, and stigma. As a result, many turn to online communities for emotional support. We examine how student loan borrowers express different emotions regarding their debt in an online community, r/personalfinance on Reddit. Specifically, we dived deeper into users’ posts that were labeled “neutral” through an initial machine learning (ML) modeling. We applied a transformer-based emotion detection ML model and keyword extraction methods to uncover hidden emotions in posts marked as “neutral” previously. Our dataset consisted of over 225,000 posts, filtered down to 67,000 “neutral” posts. We found that users expressed frustration with repayment challenges, retirement-related stress, and advice-seeking behavior. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on mental health concerns related to student debt by enhancing emotion detection models to improve NLP tools for consumer research. Additionally, it also reveals the hidden stressors faced by borrowers, and demonstrates the value of social media in monitoring public well-being – offering insights for consumer wellbeing and mental health professionals.
Author(s): Aditi Ravi, Vincent van Epps, Gaurav Sinha
FINRA Foundation / ACCI Undergraduate Student Poster Competition 1st Place Winner
Obesity is a chronic disease and a major risk factor for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It also creates a significant economic burden due to higher medical costs, long-term treatment, and reduced productivity. Despite efforts, obesity persists. New weight-loss drugs have shifted the landscape, with an average 15% weight reduction when used consistently. However, high costs, insurance gaps, and public perception challenges limit access and sustained use. This study uses a Social Determinants of Health framework to explore how factors like income, race, and gender influence medication uptake across different groups—current users, potential users, and those unlikely to consider such treatments. By examining social and economic contexts, the study assesses how interventions impact healthcare resources and disparities, aiming to guide policies on equitable access and future strategies.
Author(s): Dymond Mitchell, Numa Maryam, Yunhee Chang
FINRA Foundation / ACCI Undergraduate Student Poster Competition 2nd Place Winner
Obesity is a chronic disease, and the United States is experiencing one of the highest increases in prevalence resulting in an increasing economic burden. While weight loss medications (WLM), are significantly efficacious, the public has mixed perceptions regarding these. This study aims to examine factors associated with U.S. consumers’ perceptions regarding safety and efficacy of prescription WLMs. A secondary cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 2025 International Food Information Council Food & Health Survey data. Of 2524 participants, perceived WLM safety and efficacy, diet and food safety, exercise and health status, WLM use and experiences were analyzed using Chi-square/ Fisher’s, and Mann-Whitney tests accordingly. Familiarity with MyPlate and Dietary Guidelines, as well as trying to lose weight, significantly correlated with higher perceived safety and efficacy of WLM (p < 0.05). Conversely, lower food supply confidence was negatively associated with WLM perceptions (p < 0.001). Perceived healthfulness of diet, perceived health status, physical activity and nutrition literacy were not significant factors (p > 0.05). Past-year WLM users (n=298), especially current users and those with positive experiences, reported significantly higher confidence in WLM safety and efficacy (p<0.05). Consumer perceptions of WLM safety and efficacy are shaped by familiarity with MyPlate, Dietary guidelines, personal weight goals, confidence in food systems, and past use of WLM and experience with WLM. These findings have public health and economic significance and would help to develop interventions to improve informed decision-making regarding prescribed WLM.
