Berge Jerica M, Draxten Michelle, Trofholz Amanda, Hanson-Bradley Carrie, Justesen Kathryn, Slattengren Andrew
University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Eat Behav. 2018 Apr;29:99-106. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2018.02.007. Epub 2018 Feb 23.
Numerous quantitative studies have examined the association between family meal frequency and child/adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors. However, limited qualitative research has been conducted to identify mealtime characteristics (e.g., child behavior during meals, rules/expectations, family dynamics) that occur during family meals that may explain why some families engage in frequent family meals and others do not. This is particularly important within racially/ethnically diverse households, as these demographic groups are at higher risk for weight-related problems. The current study aimed to identify similarities and differences in mealtime characteristics between households that have frequent and infrequent family meals within a low-income and minority population.
This qualitative study included 118 parents who participated in Family Meals, LIVE!, a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study. Parents (90% female; mean age = 35) were racially/ethnically diverse (62% African American, 19% White, 4% Native American, 4% Asian, 11% Mixed/Other) and from low-income (73% < $35,000/yr.) households. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.
Results indicated some similar mealtime characteristics (i.e., picky eating, involving family members in meal preparation) between households having frequent and infrequent family meals. Additionally, several differences in mealtime characteristics were identified between households having frequent (i.e., importance of family meals, flexibility in the definition of family meals, family meal rules, no pressure-to-eat feeding practices) versus infrequent family meals (i.e., pressure-to-eat parent feeding practices, family meals are dinner meals only, and difficult meal time behaviors).
Study findings may be useful for developing intervention targets for low-income and racially/ethnically diverse households so more families can benefit from the protective nature of family meals.
众多定量研究探讨了家庭聚餐频率与儿童/青少年体重及体重相关行为之间的关联。然而，为确定家庭聚餐期间出现的用餐时间特征（例如，用餐时儿童的行为、规则/期望、家庭动态）而开展的定性研究有限，这些特征或许可以解释为何有些家庭经常进行家庭聚餐而有些家庭则不然。这在种族/民族多样化的家庭中尤为重要，因为这些人群面临与体重相关问题的风险更高。本研究旨在确定低收入和少数族裔人群中经常和不经常进行家庭聚餐的家庭在用餐时间特征上的异同。
这项定性研究纳入了118名参与“家庭聚餐，活力生活！”（Family Meals, LIVE!）这一混合方法横断面研究的家长。家长们（90%为女性；平均年龄 = 35岁）种族/民族多样（62%为非裔美国人，19%为白人，4%为美洲原住民，4%为亚洲人，11%为其他/混合种族），来自低收入家庭（73%家庭年收入低于35,000美元）。数据采用归纳性内容分析法进行分析。
结果表明，经常和不经常进行家庭聚餐的家庭在用餐时间特征上存在一些相似之处（即挑食、让家庭成员参与 meal preparation）。此外，还发现经常进行家庭聚餐的家庭（即家庭聚餐的重要性、家庭聚餐定义的灵活性、家庭聚餐规则、无强迫进食的喂养方式）与不经常进行家庭聚餐的家庭（即强迫进食的家长喂养方式、家庭聚餐仅指晚餐、用餐时间行为困难）在用餐时间特征上存在若干差异。
研究结果可能有助于为低收入和种族/民族多样化的家庭制定干预目标，以便更多家庭能够受益于家庭聚餐的保护作用。
