scholarly journals Beyond the Normative Family Meal Promotion: A Narrative Review of Qualitative Results about Ordinary Domestic Commensality

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3186
Author(s):  
Fairley Le Moal ◽  
Maxime Michaud ◽  
Carol Hartwick-Pflaum ◽  
Georgia Middleton ◽  
Isabelle Mallon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Mental Load ◽  
Family Meal ◽  
External Constraints ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
The Family

There exists a normative representation of family meals in contemporary Western societies which is promoted as imperative through public health programs, larger discourses and by some studies in the nutritional and public health research fields. Family meals, also called domestic commensality, are represented as convivial events and are associated with positive health and wellbeing outcomes but there is minimal evidence to show they are beneficial for family members and it is not known which aspect of the family meal could be responsible for these alleged benefits. This normative family meal image is based on a representation of the family as a peaceful unit exempt from external constraints. This narrative literature review of qualitative studies of family meals seeks to put forward the underlying premises of this representation and compare it with reports about actual practices. The results emphasize that eating together is still practiced and remains valued by family members, which is in contrast to discourses lamenting the decline of the family meal. However, the valorisation and recurrence of family meals depends on class, gender and cultural positions. There is a gap between the norm of healthy or convivial and achievable family meals, which can reinforce the so-called “mental load” and “emotion work” of those in charge of feeding the family and heighten inequalities within the household. In fact, there are many challenges to family meals which originate from external constraints or are inherent aspects of family life. The results from this review suggest that we should focus on family meals by taking into account the food work surrounding it and focussing on the interactional aspects of family meals. Ethnographic methods allow the researcher to observe the diversities and complexities of commensality as well as family dynamics and, in doing so, could provide more realistic representations of eating within the family.

scholarly journals Days Needed to Characterize the Healthfulness of a Typical Dinner Meal in Direct Observational Research: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Tate ◽  
Amanda Trofholz ◽  
Michael Miner ◽  
Jerica Berge
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Family Meal ◽  
Family Dinner ◽  
The Family ◽  
Outcomes For Children ◽  
Key Aspects

BACKGROUND Prior research around the home meal environment has demonstrated that family meals are associated with positive health outcomes for children and adolescents. Researchers have begun using direct observational methods to understand key aspects of family meals such as meal healthfulness and family meal frequency to explain the protective nature of family meals. Direct observational research, however, can be resource intensive and also burdensome for participants. Information about the number of days needed to sufficiently characterize typical meal healthfulness using direct observational research methods is needed. OBJECTIVE The current study aimed to produce guidance about the number of meals necessary to approximate typical meal healthfulness at the family dinner meal occasion in a direct observational, mixed methods study of the home food environment. METHODS Families were recruited between 2012-2013 from primary care clinics in the Minneapolis–St Paul metropolitan area (N=120). A total of 800 meals were collected as part of the Family Meals LIVE! mixed methods study. The Healthfulness of Meal Index was used to evaluate meal dietary healthfulness of foods served at 8 family meal occasions. Participating families were provided an iPad (Apple Inc) and asked to video-record 8 consecutive days of family dinner meals with a minimum of two weekend meals. After the meal, families completed a meal screener, which is a self-reported, open-ended measure of the foods served at the meal. RESULTS Weekend and weekday meals differed in their measurement of meal healthfulness, indicating that at least one weekday and one weekend day are necessary to approximate meal healthfulness. Single-day measurement mischaracterized the strength of the relationship between the quality of what was served and intake by almost 50%, and 3 to 4 observation days were sufficient to characterize typical weekly meal healthfulness (<i>r</i>=0.94; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS Relatively few direct observational days of family meals data appear to be needed to approximate the healthfulness of meals across 1 week. Specifically, 1 weekday and 1 weekend observation are needed, including a total of 3 to 4 days of direct observational meal data. These findings may inform future direct observational study designs to reduce both research costs and participant burden in assessing features of the meal environment.

scholarly journals Family Meals, Conviviality and the Mediterranean Diet among Families with Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2499
Author(s):  
Andrea de la Torre-Moral ◽  
Sergi Fàbregues ◽  
Anna Bach-Faig ◽  
Albert Fornieles-Deu ◽  
F. Xavier Medina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Family Meal ◽  
Food Pattern ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Meal Composition

Two aspects that characterize the Mediterranean diet (MD) are “what” and “how” we eat. Conviviality relates to “how” we eat and to the pleasure of sharing meals with significant people. The most studied concept is “family meals”, which includes conviviality, which involves “enjoying” family meals. Given the lack of research on convivial family meals in Mediterranean countries, the purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the family meal representations and practices of families with 12- to 16-year-old adolescents to assess whether they responded to a pattern of conviviality, and to examine their association with MD adherence. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted and food frequency and family meal questionnaires were administered. A food pattern analysis was carried out and digital photos of meals were analyzed to examine eating habits and meal composition, respectively. The findings showed that parents believed family meals are a space for socialization and communication. Items relating to the conviviality of family meals identified in the study were meal frequency, meals at the table, lack of digital distractions, pleasant conversations, and time spent on family meals. Attention should be paid to conviviality in Mediterranean families when designing multi-approach strategies to promote healthy eating among adolescents.

scholarly journals An online family-based self-monitoring and goal-setting intervention to improve children’s physical activity: the FRESH feasibility trial and three-arm pilot RCT

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1-116
Author(s):  
Esther MF van Sluijs ◽  
Helen E Brown ◽  
Emma Coombes ◽  
Claire Hughes ◽  
Andrew P Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Recruitment Strategies ◽  
Family Based

Background Family-based physical activity promotion presents a promising avenue for promoting whole-family physical activity, but high-quality research is lacking. Objectives To assess the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of FRESH (Families Reporting Every Step to Health), a child-led online family-based physical activity intervention; and to identify effective and resource-efficient family recruitment strategies. Design The project consisted of (1) a randomised feasibility trial, (2) a randomised controlled pilot trial and (3) a systematic review and Delphi study. Setting Norfolk/Suffolk counties, UK. Participants Families, recruited from schools, workplaces and community settings, were eligible to participate if one child aged 7–11 years and one adult responsible for their care provided written consent; all family members could participate. Interventions The FRESH intervention, guided by self-determination theory, targeted whole families and was delivered via an online platform. All family members received pedometers and were given website access to select family step challenges to ‘travel’ to target cities around the world, log steps, and track progress as they virtually globetrotted. Families were randomised to FRESH intervention, pedometer-only or control arm. Main outcome measures Physical (e.g. blood pressure), psychosocial (e.g. family functioning) and behavioural (e.g. device-measured family physical activity) measures were collected at baseline and at 8- and 52-week follow-up. A mixed-methods process evaluation assessed the acceptability of the intervention and evaluation. Data sources review Systematic search of four databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, PsycINFO and SCOPUS). Review methods Articles were screened in duplicate, and data extraction was fully checked. Academic experts participated in the three-round Delphi study. Data were combined to identify effective and resource-efficient family recruitment strategies. Inclusion criteria Included generally healthy school-aged children and at least one adult; intervention attempted to change physical activity, sedentary behaviour, screen use, diet, or prevent overweight/obesity in multiple family members; presented relevant measure of effect in children and adults. Results The feasibility study (12 families, 32 participants; 100% retention at 8 weeks) demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of FRESH, but highlighted that adaptations were required. Of 41 families recruited in the pilot study (149 participants), 98% and 88% were retained at the 8-week and 52-week follow-up, respectively. More children in the FRESH arm self-reported doing more family physical activity, and they thought that FRESH was fun. There were no notable between-group differences in children’s outcomes. Change in moderate to vigorous physical activity at 8 weeks favoured FRESH intervention adults [vs. control: 9.4 minutes/week (95% confidence interval 0.4 to 18.4) vs. pedometer only: 15.3 (95% confidence interval 6.0 to 24.5)], and was stronger in fathers, but this was not maintained. In 49 included studies, apart from recruitment settings and strategies used (reported in 84% and 73% of the studies, respectively), recruitment details were scarce. School-based recruitment was predominant. The Delphi study identified a wide range of recruitment settings and strategies. Limitations Recruitment was the main limitation of the FRESH studies; generalisability of the proposed recruitment strategies may be limited. Conclusions This study has demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the FRESH intervention. However, we failed to recruit the target sample size and were unable to demonstrate a signal of effectiveness. Future research should employ a multifaceted recruitment approach. Future work Further refinements to intervention delivery and recruitment methods should be investigated. Study registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12789422 and PROSPERO CRD42019140042. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 9, No. 9. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Framing the Family Meal: A Comparison of Social Marketing Campaigns and Parents’ Views

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Bacon
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Single Parents ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Meal Frequency ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Family Meal ◽  
The Family ◽  
Outcomes For Children ◽  
Social Marketing Campaigns ◽  
Parents Experiences

Research suggests family meals are associated with positive outcomes for children, leading scholars to recommend their public promotion. Several organizations have created campaigns promoting family meals, but little research has been done on their efficacy. This article compares framing strategies of family meal campaigns with parents’ understandings of feeding work, based on content analysis of 10 campaign websites and interviews with 46 American parents. The analysis suggests that while the motivational and diagnostic frames campaigns use are likely to resonate with parents, their prognostic framing does not align with parents’ experiences. Campaign frames are least likely to resonate with single parents, who face more barriers to having the kinds of meals they want and have fewer ideas for overcoming them. To be more effective, organizations promoting family meals should focus on innovative but relatable strategies for improving family meal frequency and quality, with a particular emphasis on single parents.

scholarly journals Dishing on dinner: a life course approach to understanding the family meal context among families with preschoolers

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kathryn Walton ◽  
Andrea Breen ◽  
Julia Gruson-Wood ◽  
Kira Jewell ◽  
Emma Haycraft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Family Meal ◽  
The Family ◽  
Significant Life ◽  
Past Experiences

Abstract Objective: Family meals promote healthful dietary intake and well-being among children. Despite these benefits, family meal participation typically declines as children age. This study utilises life course theory to explore parents’ perceptions of family meals in order to understand how parents’ past experiences with family meals (in childhood and earlier in adulthood) influence their current beliefs and practices regarding mealtimes with their own children. Design: Semi-structured qualitative interviews. Setting: In-person interviews were conducted in participants’ homes. Participants: Twenty families (twenty-one mothers and fifteen fathers) with a child aged between 18 months and 5 years. Results: Thematic analysis revealed that families seemed to primarily approach mealtimes from one of three overarching orientations: meals for (1) Togetherness, (2) Nutrition Messaging or (3) Necessity. These orientations were informed by parents’ own mealtime experiences and significant life transitions (e.g. parenthood). The current family meal context, including the messages parents shared with their children during mealtimes and the challenges experienced with mealtimes, characterised the orientations and families’ approaches to mealtimes. Conclusions: Parents’ own early life experiences and significant life transitions influence why families eat meals together and have important implications for the intergenerational transmission of mealtime practices. Results may help to inform the content and timing of intervention strategies to support the continuation of frequent family meals beyond the preschool years.

scholarly journals Familien mit einem schizophren erkrankten Elternteil: Ergebnisse einer fallrekonstruktiven Familienstudie

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-76
Author(s):  
Johannes Jungbauer ◽  
Jutta Kinzel-Senkbeil ◽  
Juliane Kuhn ◽  
Albert Lenz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Family System ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Sich Eine ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Impact

Objective: This study aims at investigating the impact of a parental schizophrenia on the family members, their everyday life and their relations. For this purpose, we conduct qualitative interviews with mothers and fathers suffering from schizophrenia, their spouses and children. Methods: Interview data is analyzed using casereconstructive as well as content analysis methods. Results: Although results illustrate a great variety of family constellations and burdening circumstances, there are a number of typical patterns: Having children is perceived by affected parents in an ambiguous manner, i.e. as a resource as well as a distress. Relationships of couples and families are often impaired, resulting in a high risk of abandonment of relationships. At the same time, family members strive for normality in everyday life. Normalisation and avoidance strategies can bring about that the schizophrenia becomes a taboo issue within the family. Thus, with regard to their parent’s illness, many of the children are insufficiently informed. Often, the children are overstrained by this situation and, in turn, may develop behaviour disorders, anxiety, or depression. Discussion: In sum, schizophrenia can be considered as a “family disease” as it strongly affects the whole family system. Hence, it is necessary to provide preventive help offers for affected parents, their spouses and children. For delivering support, youth welfare and public health services should cooperate closely. Zusammenfassung Fragestellung: In diesem Beitrag werden Ergebnisse einer fallrekonstruktiven Studie vorgestellt, bei der Familien mit einem schizophren erkrankten Elternteil befragt wurden. Dabei sollte untersucht wurden, wie sich die Schizophrenie auf die Familienmitglieder, ihren Alltag und ihre Beziehungen auswirkt. Methodik: Die Auswertung erfolgte sowohl fall- als auch themenbezogen, wobei inhaltsanalytische und fallrekonstruktive Verfahren eingesetzt wurden. Ergebnisse: Trotz der Vielfalt der familiären Konstellationen und Belastungslagen zeigte sich eine Reihe charakteristischer Muster. Kinder zu haben bedeutet für erkrankte Eltern, sowohl Ressourcen als auch Belastungen zu haben. Paar- und Familienbeziehungen sind oft stark beeinträchtigt und weisen ein hohes Risiko für Beziehungsabbrüche auf. Zugleich wird im Familienalltag eine Normalität jenseits der Erkrankung angestrebt und erlebt. Normalisierungs- und Vermeidungsstrategien können dazu beitragen, dass die Erkrankung zu einem Tabuthema wird. Viele Kinder sind daher unzureichend über die elterliche Schizophrenie informiert. Sie sind in dieser Situation oft überfordert und entwickeln ihrerseits Verhaltensauffälligkeiten, Ängste und Depressionen. Diskussion: Die Schizophrenie kann insofern als „Familienerkrankung“ gedeutet werden, als sie das gesamte Familiensystem beeinflusst, belastet und gefährdet. Aus diesem Grund sollten verstärkt familienorientierte Präventionsangebote bereitgestellt werden, wobei Gesundheitswesen und Jugendhilfe eng miteinander kooperieren sollten.

scholarly journals 當代中國的公共衞生——基於儒家家庭觀的一點想法

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-90
Author(s):  
Haihong ZHANG
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Based ◽  
Chinese Public

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.在中國，無論是對公共衞生內涵的理解還是公共衞生建設的相應理念等在很大程度上都存在因襲、甚至照搬西方模式的問題。在公共衞生責任主體的界定問題上，中國政府強調其對公共衞生的有限責任，認為公共衞生建設是需要政府、社會、團體和民眾的廣泛參與、共同努力的系統工程；學者們卻對政府提出了更高的期望。基於政府應當在公共衞生中承擔主要責任的立場，筆者強調各責任主體在公共衞生中的合作關係。相比於西方社會，中國缺少第三部門 (或非牟利團體) 的社會現實決定了我們必須找尋適合中國自己的出路。通過對傳統儒家家庭觀的批判繼承，筆者認為應當借鑒指導中國家庭的組織與建構，進一步重塑家庭在當代中國公共衞生中的角色。筆者希望借助家庭作為中國社會傳統資源的優勢，讓其在當代轉型社會中充當連接政府和個人的橋樑。一方面，筆者試圖從傳統儒家思想出發建構其理論基礎，另一方面，筆者亦希望該努力能為中國的公共衞生建設找到一條有效途徑，以期為構建中國自己的公共衞生找尋到一條現實而合理的出路。The SARS epidemic in China in 2003 highlighted the significant role played by public health in contemporary society. It also stimulated public health research in Chinese academia. Although the area is too complex to be concisely defined, it is widely recognized that public health focuses mainly on prevention, protection, and promotion. In China, we have usually attempted to copy Western models to deal with Chinese problems in general and public health issues in particular. A serious problem, however, is that such models may fit Chinese contexts well. Chinese scholars have engaged in Western theoretical debates without considering China’s unique conditions. I think that this is not an effective way to conduct public health research in China.China faces three major problems in public health services. First, different kinds of chronic diseases severely affect people’s everyday lives, and there is wide regional disparity in public health. Second, it is very difficult to carry out public health services in many regions in the absence of a decent nation-wide minimum healthcare system and a trust relationship between physicians and patients. Finally, because of the one-child policy, the Chinese population has become old before the nation becomes wealthy.It is impossible for the government alone to deal with all of these difficult problems. Although public participation has been suggested, little has been done to encourage it. It is high time that China adopted a suitable strategy that is based on its unique traditional resources. The family is the key to public health in China. For more than five thousand years, Chinese society has been family based. Although the structure and functions of the family have greatly changed in contemporary times, the resources of the family cannot be overlooked in addressing public health in China. Confucian ethics, which underlie contemporary Chinese society, stem from ideas of proper family life, relationships, and management. If we seriously consider certain public health areas, including health education, disease prevention, and health promotion, then the role of the family is inevitably highlighted. The various elements of Confucianism, such as human flourishing, harmonious family life, filial duty, and mutual respect among family members, constitute the ethical guidelines for the construction of a theory of Chinese public health services and the practical application of such a theory. In addition, compared with Western countries, China still has a long way to go regarding third parties or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) contributing to public health work. Perhaps family-based associations, such as traditional family clans, will be able to act as Confucianist NGOs and play a significant role in promoting Chinese public health.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 642 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

scholarly journals EFEKTIVITAS SELF-CONCORDANCE KELUARGA PENGAWAS MINUM OBAT PADA PENCEGAHAN PENULARAN TUBERCULOSIS DI PUSKESMAS DELI TUA

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-44
Author(s):  
Bahtera Bin David Purba
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Center ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Tuberculosis Patients ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Public Figures ◽  
The Family ◽  
Treatment Data

The study aims to analyze the effectivity of self-concordance of family members, health officers,teachers, and community leaders as the supervision of taking medication causes tuberculosis. Thistype of research is research quasi-experiment without control. Participants grouped into four drugtakingsupervision groups, namely family, health officers, teachers, and public figures. At thebeginning of the program, each amounted to 40 patients. Supervisors who qualified in the sample arethose who have registered at the Deli Tua Public health center with tuberculosis patients undergoing aminimum of six months of treatment. Data analyzed by illustration ANOVA (one way). The results ofthe study showed self-concordance of different meaningless treatments between family and teachersand community leaders. Self-Concordance control of the environment shows a meaningful differencebetween family with health officers, teachers, and community leaders. Self-concordance control coughor sneezing in this study found to be different meaningful between families with health officers,teachers, and public figures. Recommended to the Health office of Deli Serdang provide training ofcore family members as a supervisor to take medication from the family in the prevention oftransmission tuberculosis

An evaluation of the Kinect-Ed presentation, a motivating nutrition and cooking intervention for young adolescents in grades 6–8

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 945-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Santarossa ◽  
Jillian Ciccone ◽  
Sarah J. Woodruff
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Food Preparation ◽  
Young Adolescents ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Family Meal ◽  
Meal Preparation ◽  
Family Dinner ◽  
Preparation Techniques

Recently, public health messaging has included having more family meals and involving young adolescents (YAs) with meal preparation to improve healthful diets and family dinner frequency (FDF). Kinect-Ed, a motivational nutrition education presentation was created to encourage YAs (grades 6–8) to help with meal preparation and ultimately improve FDF. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Kinect-Ed presentation, with the goals of the presentation being to improve self-efficacy for cooking (SE), food preparation techniques (TECH), food preparation frequency (PREP), family meal attitudes and behaviours, and ultimately increase FDF. A sample of YAs (n = 219) from Southern Ontario, Canada, completed pre- and postpresentation surveys, measuring FDF, PREP, SE, and TECH. Kinect-Ed successfully improved participants’ FDF (p < 0.01), PREP (p < 0.01), SE (p < 0.01), and TECH (<0.01). Overall, goals of the presentation were met. Encouraging YAs to help prepare meals and get involved in the kitchen may reduce the time needed from parents to prepare meals, and, in turn, allow more time for frequent family dinners.

The Family as a Unit in Public Health Research

1954 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Marguerite Keller ◽  
Margaret Merrell
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
The Family
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