Food-related Life Satisfaction Research Articles

Profiles of older adults according to their life and food-related life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: the importance of the social environment.

Older adults are a highly heterogeneous population, as individuals of the same age can show considerable variations in personal characteristics and living conditions. Risk and protective factors for older adults' subjective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic can be explored by examining how life satisfaction, food-related life satisfaction, and associated variables coexist among these individuals. On this basis, this study aimed to identify older adult profiles based on their levels of life and food-related life satisfaction; to characterize these profiles by diet quality, social support, financial wellbeing, and sociodemographic characteristics; and to identify variables associated with higher life and food-related life satisfaction. The sample included 1,371 institutionalized and non-institutionalized individuals over the age of 60, from four cities in Chile. Participants answered a survey, either online or face to face, with questions about life and food-related life satisfaction, perceived social support from family, friends, and others, food quality, financial wellbeing/distress, sociodemographic characteristics, and prior COVID-19 infection. Using a latent profile analysis, we identified three profiles of older adults: Profile 1: Unsatisfied with their life, somewhat satisfied with their food-related life (5.40%); Profile 2: Somewhat satisfied with their life, satisfied with their food-related life (65.06%); Profile 3: Extremely satisfied with their life and food-related life (29.54%). Profiles differed by residence (institutionalized vs. independent), age, marital status, social support, financial wellbeing, COVID-19 infection, and city of residence. The patterns of association between life and food-related satisfaction and related variables indicate conditions of vulnerability and protection related to living conditions, the social dimensions of food consumption, and social support. These results underscore the need for identifying groups of older adults based on diverse characteristics and conditions outside of chronological age.

Spillover-crossover effects for satisfaction with food-related life in dual-earner parents with adolescent children

This study aimed to examine spillover and crossover associations between parents’ family support, work-life balance, and satisfaction with food-related life in dual-earner parents with adolescent children. The mediating role of work-life balance in these relationships was also explored. This is a cross-sectional study with mothers, fathers and adolescent children from Temuco, Chile as participants. The sample comprised 303 families of different-sex dual-earner parents with adolescent children (mean age 13.3, 51.5% female). The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used to examine spillover (actor effects) and crossover (partner effects) associations between family members. Positive spillover effects were found for both parents (p < 0.001). Crossover effects were found from fathers’ support and work-life balance, respectively, to mothers’ work-life balance and satisfaction with food-related life (p < 0.001). No crossover effects were found between parents’ work-life balance and their children’s satisfaction with food-related life (p > 0.1). Work-life balance had a complete mediating role between parents’ family support and satisfaction with food-related life in mothers (bias-corrected, 95%CI: -0.191; 0.093), and a partial role in fathers (bias-corrected, 95%CI: 0.007; 0.295). Spillover and crossover effects between parents’ family support and work-life balance in dual-earner parents are associated with increased satisfaction with food-related life. Interventions to promote food-related life satisfaction in dual-earner parents should address both the work and other life roles that these parents fulfill.

Classifying and characterizing Chinese young adults reporting picky eating: A latent profile analysis.

Picky eating (PE) is common across the lifespan and related to psychosocial impairment and limited dietary variety. However, research about PE in non-Western countries is limited. Because eating behaviors may differ by culture, operationalizing PE in non-Western countries (e.g., China) is needed. The present study aimed to replicate two previous studies identifying PE profiles in Western countries by using latent profile analysis (LPA) to classify and characterize adults reporting picky eating in a Chinese sample. A sample of 1,068 Chinese young adults completed a battery of questionnaires including the adult eating behavior questionnaire (AEBQ). LPA was utilized to identify eating profiles. The three-step approach was used to examine predictors of latent memberships and profile differences on various self-reported measures. The best fit was a four-profile solution, with two picky eating profiles emerging: picky eating and severe picky eating. Compared to those in the other two profiles, participants in the picky eating profile (19.4%) and severe picky eating profile (3.3%) had significantly higher scores on self-reported eating disorder symptoms and psychological distress, and lower scores on self-reported food-related life satisfaction. Relative to the picky eating profile, participants in the severe picky eating profile reported significantly greater self-reported eating disorder symptoms, psychological distress, and food-related dissatisfaction. Characterizing PE profiles is an important step toward understanding eating behaviors among Chinese young adults. Identifying various eating profiles has implications for future research related to PE, including the development of diagnostic tools and interventions to address PE in a Chinese context.

Translating, modifying, and validating the Adult Picky Eating Questionnaire for use in China

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to translate, modify, and validate the Adult Picky Eating Questionnaire (APEQ) for use in China. MethodsBased on standard procedures, the APEQ was translated into Chinese. Four items were added in the final Chinese version of the APEQ (C-APEQ). For testing the psychometric properties of the C-APEQ, a total of 1069 participants (17–24 years; 52.57% women) were recruited from two universities in mainland China. ResultsExploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported the previous four-factor structure of the APEQ. Findings also showed that the C-APEQ had adequate internal consistency (α = 0.874) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.778). The C-APEQ demonstrated strong measurement invariance across gender. Furthermore, the C-APEQ composite score presented positive and significant correlations with eating disturbance, psychological distress, and psychological inflexibility. It also showed a negative and significant correlation with food-related life satisfaction. ConclusionFindings suggested that the Chinese version of the APEQ demonstrated sound psychometric properties. Thus, the C-APEQ can be a useful tool in future studies to accurately assess picky eating among adult population and explore the relationships between picky eating and other physical and psychological outcomes in a Chinese context.

The Mediating Role of Family and Food-Related Life Satisfaction in the Relationships between Family Support, Parent Work-Life Balance and Adolescent Life Satisfaction in Dual-Earner Families.

This study explored the associations between family support and satisfaction with life, food-related life and family life. It also assessed the associations between both parents’ work-life balance and satisfaction with life, food-related life and family life among adolescent children from dual-earner families. Questionnaires were administered to 303 dual-earner families with one child between 10 and 17 years in Temuco, Chile. Adolescents answered the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life scale (SWFoL), Satisfaction with Family Life scale (SWFaL) and the Family subscale of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Both parents answered the Work-life Balance (WLB) scale. Using structural equation modelling and having controlled for adolescents’ gender, age and socioeconomic status, we confirmed that adolescent life satisfaction is associated with satisfaction with family life and food-related life. Food-related life satisfaction and family life satisfaction had complete mediating roles between perceived family support and adolescents’ life satisfaction. Satisfaction with food-related life also had a complete mediating role between both parents’ WLB and adolescents’ life satisfaction. Satisfaction with family life had a complete mediating role between mothers’ WLB and adolescents’ life satisfaction. In addition, mothers’ WLB was positively associated with perceived family support among adolescents. These findings suggest the need to improve family support and work-life balance among mothers in order to enhance adolescents’ satisfaction with different domains of life in dual-earner families.

University student profiles according to satisfaction with life, food and family

The aim of this study was to distinguish university student profiles according to life satisfaction and satisfaction with food-related life and family, as well as to determine whether profiles differ in terms of their family support, quality of diet, body mass index (BMI) and socio-demographic characteristics. A questionnaire was applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 370 students of both sexes (mean age 21.1 years, 54.2% female) in Chile, including Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life (SWFoL) scale, Satisfaction with Family Life (SWFaL) scale, Family Resources Scale (FRS) and the Adapted Healthy Eating Index (AHEI). Three student types were distinguished with significant differences in average values of SWLS, SWFoL and SWFaL scales, z-scores from the intangible resources subscale from the FRS and average AHEI score. These profiles also differed in place of residence, dinner frequency at place of residence and BMI. Higher life satisfaction levels, as well as food-related life satisfaction, family life satisfaction, and intangible family support, were associated with a higher quality diet, lower BMI, living with parents while at university, and having dinner more frequently at home.

Weight Fluctuation and Diet Concern Negatively Affect Food-Related Life Satisfaction in Chilean Male and Female Adolescents.

Problematic eating behaviors and obesity are frequent problems encountered during adolescence that may potentially result in psychological, social and physical consequences that may interfere with adolescent development and well-being. The present study evaluates the relationship between satisfaction with food-related life and satisfaction with family life, and their relationship with life satisfaction in male and female adolescents. We explored the relationships between both subscales of the Revised Restraint Scale (RRS), Diet Concern (DC) and Weight Fluctuation (WF) and adolescent life satisfaction as well as satisfaction with food-related life and family life. We also explored the moderating role of socioeconomic status (SES). A questionnaire was applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 470 adolescents (mean age 13.2 years, 52.3% female) in Chile, including the RRS, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life (SWL-Food) scale and Satisfaction with Family Life (SWL-Family) scale. Using structural equation modeling, we found that adolescent life satisfaction was related to satisfaction with family life and food-related life in both genders. In male adolescents, a negative relationship was identified between WF and food-related life satisfaction. In contrast, a negative relationship was identified in female adolescents between DC and food-related life satisfaction. DC and WF were not directly related to life satisfaction or to satisfaction with family life in either gender. SES was found to moderate the relationship between food-related life satisfaction and life satisfaction and the relationship between WF and food-related life satisfaction in female adolescents. These findings suggest that reducing DC in female adolescents and reducing WF in male adolescents and female adolescents from higher SES may improve their food-related life satisfaction.

Impact of cooking competence on satisfaction with food-related life: Construction and validation of cumulative experience & knowledge scales

Research into consumers’ cooking competences mostly focuses on the nutritional qualities of the resulting meals and relies on non-cumulative measures of cooking skills. In response, the current article reports on several studies designed to construct and validate a set of cumulative scales to measure consumers’ cooking knowledge and experience as well as the link to consumers’ food-related life satisfaction. Expert interviews, focus groups, and previous research establish the themes and potential scale items. Then two surveys with representative samples of Danish food consumers serve to identify the critical scale items and assess the reliability and validity of the scales. The results demonstrate that the constructed knowledge and experience scales are cumulative, have high levels of reliability, and indicate the positive effects of such knowledge and experience on consumers’ food-related life satisfaction.

Analyzing Food-Related Life Satisfaction and other Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Central Chile.

This study aimed to assess the effect of satisfaction with food-related life on life satisfaction among inhabitants of the main municipalities of central Chile. A survey was applied to a sample of 1,277 people, distributed proportionally by municipality. The questionnaire included the following scales: SWLS (Satisfaction with Life Scale), SWFL (Satisfaction with Food-related Life) and the Health-Related Quality of Life Index (HRQOL). Questions were asked regarding eating habits inside and outside the home, time available for meals at home, the assessment of five sources of happiness and the demographic characteristics of those surveyed. An ordered logit model was proposed, in which the dependent variable was satisfaction with life. Satisfaction with life was significantly related to the respondent's socioeconomic status, self-perception of health, degree of satisfaction with food-related life, monthly food expenditure, time available for supper with the family (p < .01); gender, self-reported number of days affected by mental health problems, frequency of supper with the family, the degree of agreement with respect to family being an important source of happiness (p < .05); and family size and frequency of food consumption in fast food outlets (p < .10). Satisfaction with life in the study sample is related to aspects associated with health, family and eating, and the family interaction associated with eating may play an important role in overall satisfaction with life.

Food-related lifestyles and eating habits inside and outside the home in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile

To distinguish consumer typologies on the basis of their food-related lifestyle in the principal municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile, and to characterize these according to their food consumption habits inside and outside the home, sociodemographic characteristics and their level of satisfaction with food-related life. A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 951 people in the principal municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago (more than 100,000 inhabitants). The instrument for collecting data included an adaptation of the food-related life (FRL) questionnaire and the satisfaction with food-related life (SWFL) scale. The food consumption habits inside and outside the home were asked about as well as sociodemographic classification variables of those surveyed. Using a cluster analysis, five typologies were distinguished with significant differences in the five components obtained from the FRL with a factorial analysis of the principal components. The typologies presented a different gender, age and socioeconomic level profile and differed in the scores obtained on the SWFL. They differed in the frequency with which the person has lunch, tea ("once" in Chile) and dinner at home. With respect to the meals outside the home, the typologies were distinguished according to the frequency of meals in restaurants, fast food outlets and in the purchase of prepared food. A lifestyle where eating is related to low involvement and enjoyment of food is associated with a person's higher socioeconomic level and lower age. Additionally, a greater frequency of meals in restaurants and the purchase of prepared food combined with a lower frequency of meals at home is associated with unhealthy eating habits of little benefit to the person, which might have a bearing on a lower level of food-related life satisfaction.