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New roads to commensality in widowhood
Sidse Schoubye Andersen1, Rikke Nøhr Brünner2
1Department of Food and Resource Economics University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 25, DK-1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Appetite
|August 18, 2020
Summary
Widow(er)s often find eating alone difficult after losing a spouse. However, themed community meals can help older adults overcome negative stereotypes and foster positive social connections.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Loss of a spouse disrupts daily routines, impacting health and well-being.
- Commensal routines, like shared meals, are vital for social connection and daily structure.
- Social isolation in older adults, particularly widow(er)s, is a significant public health concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how older widows and widowers cope with disrupted mealtime routines.
- To understand perceptions of community-based social meal arrangements among older adults.
- To identify factors influencing participation in social dining for widow(er)s.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 widow(er)s from diverse educational backgrounds.
- Explored experiences with eating alone and attitudes towards community meals.
- Investigated the impact of themed meals versus general social meals.
Main Results:
- Many widow(er)s perceive eating alone as problematic but hesitate to join community meals.
- Negative stereotypes about other attendees often deter participation in general community meals.
- Themed community meals ('shared third') were perceived more positively, facilitating positive self-identity.
Conclusions:
- Disrupted commensal routines pose challenges for widow(er)s' health and social integration.
- Community-based meals can be beneficial, but negative perceptions of attendees are a barrier.
- Themed meals offer a promising strategy to enhance social engagement and promote active aging among older adults.
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