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Marital food interaction and dietary behavior
R B Schafer1, E Schafer, M Dunbar
1Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA. rschafer@iastate.edu
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|April 6, 1999
Summary
Family food interactions significantly impact dietary quality. Wives play a dominant role, influencing their husbands
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Sociology
Background:
- Family dynamics play a crucial role in shaping dietary habits.
- Understanding the interplay between family interactions and food choices is essential for promoting healthy eating.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of family food interaction on healthy dietary behaviors.
- To propose a theoretical model linking family food interaction to dietary quality indicators.
Main Methods:
- A theoretical model was developed to predict the impact of family food interaction.
- 155 married couples from a midwestern US state were randomly selected for interviews.
Main Results:
- Family food interaction was found to be significantly important for the dietary quality of marital partners.
- Wives' contributions to their husbands' dietary quality were greater than husbands' contributions to wives', indicating wives' dominant role in food selection and preparation.
Conclusions:
- Family food interaction is a key determinant of individual dietary quality within a marital relationship.
- The findings highlight the significant influence of wives in family food-related decisions and practices.