ABSTRACT
Resumen Introducción: Para las personas con trabajo remunerado, la familia es una fuente importante de recursos psicológicos que contribuyen a su bienestar. Se hipotetiza que el apoyo familiar es un factor protector de la satisfacción vital de la persona, de modo directo y a través de otras variables como las comidas familiares y la satisfacción con la vida familiar. En ese sentido, el objetivo de este estudio fue examinar el papel mediador en serie de la atmósfera de las comidas familiares y la satisfacción con la vida familiar en la relación entre el apoyo familiar y la satisfacción con la vida, en mujeres y hombres con trabajos remunerados. Método: Se aplicó la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida, Escala Multidimensional de Apoyo Social Percibido, Escala Atmósfera de las Comidas Familiares y Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida Familiar, a una muestra de 236 mujeres y 236 hombres con trabajo remunerado en Temuco, Chile. El análisis estadístico consideró un modelo de mediación en serie con un Intervalo de Confianza del 95%. Resultados: El apoyo familiar y la satisfacción con la vida correlacionaron de forma directa y estadísticamente significativa. Además, se obtuvo un efecto indirecto significativo de la atmósfera de las comidas familiares y la satisfacción con la vida familiar, en la relación entre el apoyo familiar y la satisfacción con la vida. La atmósfera de las comidas familiares y la satisfacción con la vida familiar son mediadores en serie en la relación entre el apoyo familiar y la satisfacción con la vida, en este grupo de trabajadores. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que variables asociadas a la familia y a aspectos sociales de la alimentación influyen positivamente en la satisfacción vital de los trabajadores.
Abstract Introduction: For workers, family is an important source of psychological resources that contribute to the individual's well-being. It is hypothesized that family support is a protective factor of the person's life satisfaction, directly and through other variables such as family meals and satisfaction with family life. In this regard, the aim of this study was to examine the serial mediating role of the atmosphere of family meals and satisfaction with family life in the relationship between family support and satisfaction with life, in women and men with paid jobs. Method: The Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (family subscale), a measure of Atmosphere Scale of Family Meals and the Satisfaction with Family Life Scale were administered to a sample of 236 women and 236 men with paid jobs in Temuco, Chile. The statistical analysis considered a serial mediation model with a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Family support and satisfaction with life significantly correlated with one another. In addition, a significant indirect effect of the atmosphere of family meals and satisfaction with family life was obtained in the relationship between family support and life satisfaction. The atmosphere of family meals and satisfaction with family life are serial mediators in the relationship between family support and life satisfaction in this group of workers. Conclusions: Results suggest that variables related to the family domain and to social aspects of food consumption have a positive impact in workers' life satisfaction.
ABSTRACT
Abstract The prevalence of eating disorders is between 0.27% and 6.41% in Spain and between 7.3% and 11.4% in Peru. Much research has been focused on the study of the main risk factors for eating disorders, but little is known about the potential protective factors (such as family meals) in samples of young people that include participants from different countries. This study estimates the contribution of the frequency of family meals on the risk for eating disorders in a large sample of adolescents recruited in Spain and Peru (n=916, with a mean age of 14.6 years old and age range of 12 to 17 years old). Results showed a double interaction parameter between the participants' sex and origin with the frequency of family meals: the risk for eating disorders is modified specifically for girls from both countries, and adolescents of both sexes born in Spain. This empirical evidence suggests that sex and cultural differences could be related to disordered eating patterns during adolescence and so could act as moderators for the impact of risk and protective factors for this clinical condition. The study of the contribution of the frequency of family meals on the risk of eating disorders in young people should take cultural differences into consideration with the aim of designing more targeted prevention and intervention programs.
Resumen La prevalencia de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en España se encuentra entre 0.27 % y 6.41% y en Perú entre el 7.3% y el 11.4%. Se dispone de numerosas investigaciones sobre los factores de riesgo para estos trastornos, pero escasos estudios han analizado posibles factores protectores, como las comidas familiares, en muestras jóvenes que incluyan participantes de diferentes países. Este artículo analiza la contribución de la frecuencia de las comidas familiares sobre el riesgo de trastornos de conducta alimentaria en una muestra de adolescentes (n = 916, edad media de 14.6 años, rango de edad 12 a 17 años) procedentes de España y Perú. Los principales resultados mostraron un doble parámetro de interacción entre el sexo y el origen de los participantes con la frecuencia de las comidas familiares: el riesgo de estos trastornos se modifica específicamente en mujeres y adolescentes nacidos en España. Estas evidencias empíricas sugieren que el sexo y las diferencias culturales podrían estar influyendo en los desórdenes alimentarios durante la etapa adolescente y podrían actuar moderando el impacto del riesgo y los factores protectores de la patología alimentaria. Se recomienda ampliar la investigación sobre la contribución de las comidas familiares en el riesgo de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en adolescentes considerando posibles diferencias culturales con el fin de diseñar programas de prevención e intervención más eficientes.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Feeding and Eating Disorders , Adolescent , Family , Feeding Behavior , MealsABSTRACT
RESUMEN Ante las alarmantes cifras de obesidad, se han implementado distintas estrategias de salud pública que tienen por objetivo modificar los hábitos de las personas y así combatir la obesidad. Una de las estrategias utilizadas para esto, ha sido la promoción de la comida en familia. Sin embargo, distintas investigaciones cuestionan los beneficios asociados a ésta. En este artículo realizamos una revisión de la literatura que investiga la comida en familia, distinguiendo tres corrientes principales: aquellas que enfatizan las funciones de ésta, las que analizan sus estructuras sociales y las que la consideran como resultado de un estilo de vida. Con esta revisión de los principales lineamientos teóricos, argumentamos cómo la comida en familia es una institución idealizada, discusión que busca contribuir al debate de las futuras intervenciones de salud que tienen por objetivo modificar los hábitos de salud de las personas.
ABSTRACT Faced with alarming obesity figures, various public health strategies that aim to change the habits of people and combat obesity have been implemented. One strategy has been promoting family meals. However, various studies question the benefits associated with this strategy. This article presents a review of the literature investigating the family meal. We present three primary perspectives: those that emphasize function, those that discuss social structure and articles that consider the family meal as a result of lifestyle. In this review of the main theoretical guidelines, we argue that the family meal is an idealized institution, a discussion that seeks to contribute to the debate of future health interventions that aim to change people's health habits.
Subject(s)
Humans , Family , Diet , Meals , Healthy Lifestyle , Obesity , Social Behavior , Feeding BehaviorABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is a striking lack of evidence about parents'/caregivers' influence on their children's dietary intake across Brazil and other middle- and low-income countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the associations between adolescents' dietary intake and home environment, family meals and parental support. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 1418 years old adolescent girls was conducted in 10 public schools in the city of São Paulo. Girls' dietary intake, home food environment, parental support, and family meals' frequency were self-reported by 253 adolescents. Brazilian Food Pyramid recommendation was used as reference for the dietary intake. Linear regressions were used to verify the associations between home environmental, parental support, and family meal frequency with dietary intake. RESULTS: Girls parents' support for healthy eating was positively associated with the fruits group (mean (95%CI) 0.75 (0.66 to 0.84) ß = 0.26,p= 0.003), and the vegetables group (3.40 (3.08 to 3.72, ß = 0.25,p= 0.006)and negatively associated with the meat and eggs group (2.09 (1.93 to 2.25), ß =−0.14,p= 0.041). Home environment was associated with fruits group (0.73 (0.63 to 0.82), ß = 0.35,p= 0.001). The associations between sharing family meals and food groups were not statistically significant. However, girls demonstrated a positive association with dietary intake and sharing family meals. CONCLUSION: Parental support and home food environment were associated with dietary intake of the adolescent girls. Future studies - mainly from low- and middle-income countries - are needed to provide additional evidence on these associations and the effects of youth home environment
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adolescent , Family , Diet, Healthy/statistics & numerical data , Meals/classificationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recently, there has been an increased interest in the importance of family meals on children's health and nutrition. This study aims to examine if the eating habits and eating behaviors of children are different according to the frequency of family dinners. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were third-grade students from 70 elementary schools in 17 cities nationwide. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling was employed. The survey questionnaire was composed of items that examined the general characteristics, family meals, eating habits, eating behaviors, and environmental influence on children's eating. The subjects responded to a self-reported questionnaire. Excluding the incomplete responses, the data (n = 3,435) were analyzed using chi2-test or t-test. RESULTS: The group that had more frequent family dinners (> or = 5 days/week, 63.4%), compared to those that had less (< or = 4 days/week, 36.6%), showed better eating habits, such as eating meals regularly, performing desirable behaviors during meals, having breakfast frequently, having breakfast with family members (P < 0.001), and not eating only what he or she likes (P < 0.05). Those who had more frequent family dinners also consumed healthy foods with more frequency, including protein foods, dairy products, grains, vegetables, seaweeds (P < 0.001), and fruits (P < 0.01). However, unhealthy eating behaviors (e.g., eating fatty foods, salty foods, sweets, etc.) were not significantly different by the frequency of family dinners. CONCLUSIONS: Having dinner frequently with family members was associated with more desirable eating habits and with healthy eating behaviors in young children. Thus nutrition education might be planned to promote family dinners, by emphasizing the benefits of having family meals on children's health and nutrition and making more opportunities for family meals.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Breakfast , Edible Grain , Dairy Products , Eating , Education , Family Characteristics , Feeding Behavior , Fruit , Meals , Surveys and Questionnaires , VegetablesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A higher frequency of family meals is associated with good dietary habits in young people. This study focused on the relationships of family meal frequency with food neophobia and personality traits in adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHOD: For this purpose, we administered a survey to 495 middle school students in Seoul metropolitan city, after which the data were analyzed using the SPSS (18.0) program. Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationships among dietary habits, personality traits, and food neophobia according to frequency of family meals. RESULTS: Dietary habits, personality traits, and food neophobia all showed significant differences according to the frequency of family meals. Further, eating regular family meals was associated with good dietary habits (P < 0.001) and was linked with improved extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness/intellect (P < 0.001). On the other hand, it showed a negative relationship with food neophobia (P < 0.001). The relationship between dietary habits and food neophobia showed a negative correlation (P < 0.01). The relationship between dietary habits and personality traits showed a positive correlation (P < 0.01). Lastly, the relationship between personality traits and food neophobia showed a negative correlation (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the study, the frequency of family meals affects dietary habits, personality traits, and food neophobia in adolescents.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Eating , Extraversion, Psychological , Feeding Behavior , Hand , Meals , SeoulABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recently, importance of family meals has been emphasized at home and abroad, and several journals reported that family meals had a big impact on children's development. In this paper, we would like to report the relationship between family meals and depressive symptoms in children. METHODS: This study was based on questionnaires distributed to 162 5th and 6th graders of one elementary school in the area of Daegu, Korea, in July, 2010. The questionnaire was about general characteristics, family characteristics, and quantity/quality of family meals. Family functions and depressive symptoms in children were evaluated with Smilkstein's family APGAR (adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, and resolve) score (FAS) and Kovac's Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). RESULTS: In one-way analyses of variance, there was no significant difference in FAS and CDI according to general and family characteristics (P > 0.05). CDI was significantly lower in the group having more frequent family meals (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: The frequency of family meals, having more conversation and better atmosphere during family meals predicted less depressive symptoms in children.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Atmosphere , Depression , Family Characteristics , Korea , Meals , TelevisionABSTRACT
This study analyzed the effect of family meals on the psychological problems of children. We performed focus group interviews (FGI) on the basic characteristics of family meals, and chose several scales (such as Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), self-esteem, and a daily hassles questionnaire), to measure the psychological variables. We collected data from 442 dyads (mother-child) and used 440 from dyads. In our results, the frequency of family meals affected the psychological problems of children, especially aggression and emotional instability. The atmosphere during meals also affected depression/anxiety, concentration difficulties, emotional instability, self-esteem, peer relationships, and sociality. There were significant correlations between meal atmosphere, family bonding, maternal personality, and psychological problems of children. We performed covariation analysis to examine and control the influence of family bonding and maternal personality; despite controlling for these variables, family meals still influenced children's psychological problems. We conclude that the family meal is a significant variable that impacts the emotional and behavioral problems of children and stress the importance of frequent family meals.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Aggression , Atmosphere , Checklist , Child Behavior , Focus Groups , Meals , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korea has been increasing in adults, as well as in adolescents. Recently the prevalence of MetS in children has been reported to strongly link that of MetS in parents. Families are known to share similar food environment so that eating habits of parents closely resemble that of the children's. Therefore, the aim of this study to examine metabolic risk factors and dietary intake in children by with respect to mother's metabolic syndrome, based on the data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007-2010. Using the household variable and the eldest child per household, 1,341 pairs of mothers and children were selected. The mothers were defined by MetS criteria, and then the children were classified into the following three groups in accordance to the mothers' MetS; children whose mothers had none, 1-2, and 3 or more components of MetS. All dietary data were evaluated using the data from a food frequency questionnaire. The mean age was 42.6 +/- 4.2 years for the mothers, and 14.9 +/- 2.0 years for the children. Children whose mothers had 3 or more components of MetS showed a significantly higher prevalence of overweight and higher level of fasting triglyceride; conversely, they showed a lower level of serum HDL-cholesterol compared to the other two groups. Regarding an agreement of food consumption between the mothers and children, most food groups showed high agreement, except in the category of beverages. Regarding the dietary habits and family meals, children whose mothers had 3 or more components of MetS were more likely to skip breakfast and less likely to have family meals at breakfast or snack. In conclusion, the children's metabolic risk factors and dietary factors were different with respect to the status of mothers' MetS. Further studies are necessary to examine the causal effect of family environment in children's health status.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Humans , Beverages , Breakfast , Eating , Family Characteristics , Fasting , Feeding Behavior , Korea , Meals , Mothers , Nutrition Surveys , Overweight , Parents , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk Factors , Snacks , TriglyceridesABSTRACT
Os adolescentes são considerados vulneráveis do ponto de vista nutricional, pois tendem a omitir refeições e não realizá-las com a família. Refeições em família propiciam oportunidade de socializar o adolescente e ensiná-lo sobre nutrição e bons hábitos alimentares. Objetivos Verificar associação entre frequência de refeições em família com o consumo de alimentos e estado nutricional de adolescentes. Metodologia: Foram estudados adolescentes do ensino médio de 12 escolas técnicas da região metropolitana de São Paulo, com amostragem aleatória simples. Os adolescentes responderam dois questionários, sendo um sobre atitude alimentar e outro sobre a frequência alimentar. Foi realizada mensuração antropométrica e calculado o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) para analisar o estado nutricional, utilizando-se o IMC/ idade. Para a análise dos dados foram utilizados os testes Qui-quadrado e a Análise de Variância e também comparações múltiplas quando houve diferenças significativas entre médias. Resultados: Foram avaliados 1167 adolescentes, sendo 51 por cento meninos e 49 por cento meninas. A média de IMC para ambos os gêneros foi de 22,28kg/m2 (±3,9) e observou-se baixa ingestão de verduras, legumes, frutas e leite. Verificou-se que aproximadamente 70 por cento dos adolescentes informaram realizar pelo menos 3 vezes/ semana refeições junto com a família. Detectou-se que realizar pelo menos 1 vez por dia refeições em família está associado com maior ingestão de verduras, legumes e frutas e há a tendência de ingerir maior quantidade de carnes e ovos. Não foi observada associação entre frequência de refeições em família e estado nutricional. Conclusão: Foi verificado que a maioria dos adolescentes realizava pelo menos 3 refeições em família por semana e aqueles que faziam com maior frequência ingeriam maior quantidade de verduras, legumes e frutas. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para o estado nutricional.
By the nutritional point of view, the adolescent are considered vulnerable, because they run to omit and not to perform the meals with the family. Family meals create the opportunity of socialize the adolescent and teach them nutrition and good food habits. Objectives: Checking the associations between the frequency of family meals and the food intake and adolescent nutritional status. Methods: This study was made with high school adolescents of 12 technical schools of São Paulo city, using simple random sampling. These adolescents answered two questionnaires; the first attended the food attitude, and the second attended the food frequency. The anthropometric measurements were made and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was computed to analyze the nutritional status, supported by the BMI/ age. For this study were used the Chi-square and ANOVA as well the multiple confrontation was made when significant differences between averages were detected. Results: There were assessed 1167 adolescent, being 51 per cent boys and 49 per cent girls, and the BMI average was 22,28kg/m2 (±3,9) for both. There were observed the low intake of vegetables, fruits and milk. And it as clear that close 70 per cent of adolescent told they have at least 3 meals with the family. It was observed that perform at least one daily family meal is related with higher intake of vegetables, fruits and there is the tendency of consume more quantity of the meat and eggs. It wasn't found the association between the family meals and nutritional status. Conclusion: It was observed that the most of adolescent performed at least 3 meals per week with their family, and for those that got it with more frequency consumed more vegetables and fruits. There wasn't any statistically significant difference to the nutritional status.
Subject(s)
Male , Female , Adolescent , Humans , Family Relations , Feeding Behavior , Eating , Nutritional Status , Recommended Dietary Allowances , Table of Food CompositionABSTRACT
Traditional nutrition education has not been shown to consistently produce behavior change. While it has been suggested that using emotion-based messages may be a better way to influence nutrition behavior change, this has not been well tested. Producing emotion-based messages is a multi-step process that begins with exploring subconscious barriers to behavior change rather than the more obvious and typically reported barriers. The purpose of this research was to uncover the emotional reasons, sometimes referred to as emotional pulse points, for mothers' choosing or not choosing to have more family meals. This would then serve as the first step to developing emotion-based messages promoting the benefits of family meals. Five focus group interviews were conducted with 51 low-income Black (n=28) and white (n=23) mothers. Metaphorical techniques were used to determine underlying feelings toward family and family meals. Discussions were video-taped, transcribed, and manually analyzed using a content-driven, immersion/crystallization approach to qualitative data analysis. Four themes emerged around the definition of family: acceptance, sharing, chaos, and protective/loyal. Some mothers felt mealtime was merely obligatory, and described it as stressful. Some reported a preference for attending to their own needs instead of sitting down with their children, while others felt that mealtime should be used to interact with and educate children and felt guilty when they were not able to provide family meals. Three themes emerged around feelings towards having or not having family meals: unimportant, important, and guilty. When explored further, mothers indicated that using the feeling of guilt to encourage family meals might be effective. Data obtained are being used to develop innovative, emotion-based messages that will be tested for effectiveness in promoting family meals.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Focus Groups , Guilt , Meals , Metaphor , Mothers , Resin Cements , Statistics as Topic , Unconscious, PsychologyABSTRACT
This study investigated attitudes and behaviors related to family meals among middle and high school students. Furthermore, it evaluated the dietary quality of family meals as compared to meals eaten alone. The data were collected between March and May, 2006, from 353 male and female students attending middle and high schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, using pre-tested self-administered questionnaires. The following results were obtained. In terms of family meal frequency, 44.0% of the middle school students ate with their family 'more than once per day', and 19.3% participated in family meals 1 or 2 times per day. However, only 16.4% of the high school students had family meals 'more than once per day', and 32.9% participated in family meals '1 or 2 times per a week', showing a significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). Fifty-nine percent of the middle school students answered they ate with their family everyday or on week days, whereas 67.8% of the high school students had family meals only on holidays (p<0.001). The nutrient intakes of those participating in family meals were compared to the intakes of those who ate meals alone. For both males and females, calorie intake was higher for those who ate family meals. Animal protein intake was significantly different (p<0.001) between groups, with the results showing a two-fold higher intake for those eating family meals as compared to meals alone. In addition, the intake of animal fat was significantly higher in the family meal group (p<0.001); however, plant-based fat intake was higher in the meal alone group.