THE LEVEL OF FOOD SECURITY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS MAY DIFFERENTIATE THE CHOICE OF WHERE TO BUY FOOD BY OLDER WOMEN FROM THE UPPER-SILESIAN REGION OF POLAND

Background. Economic, social and food security factors determine consumers' purchasing capacity, which greatly influences the choice of where to buy food. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between food security, a socioeconomic status and the frequency of using various forms of food retailing. The cross-sectional study using face-to-face interviews was conducted in June and July 2024 among 209 women aged 60 and over from the Silesian province. The HFSS scale was used to assess the level of food security; the FFR-FU scale was used to assess the frequency of using various forms of food retailing. Demographic and social characteristics were assessed using questions on age, residence and education. The socioeconomic status was calculated on the basis of questions on the self-assessment of material situation, financial support, social activity and family relations. Ward's hierarchical classification of variables and logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between food security, a socioeconomic status and the frequency of using various forms of food retailing. Results and conclusions. The respondents tended to use discount stores at least once a week, followed by small neighborhood and chain stores, and to a lesser extent super- and hypermarkets. E-commerce and mobile commerce were not common. Women with high levels of food security and socioeconomic status were more likely to use small neighborhood and chain stores, as well as e-commerce and mobile commerce. The frequent use of discount stores, super- and hypermarkets was determined by marginal and low levels of food security and a medium and low socio-economic status. The study found that food security and an economic and social status of older women determine their choice of where to buy food.