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

Andrea de la Torre-Moral, Sergi Fàbregues, Anna Bach-Faig, Albert Fornieles-Deu, F. Xavier Medina, Alicia Aguilar-Martínez and David Sánchez-Carracedo
Additional contact information
Andrea de la Torre-Moral: Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Sergi Fàbregues: Department of Psychology and Education, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Anna Bach-Faig: FoodLab Research Group (2017SGR 83), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Albert Fornieles-Deu: Eating and Weight-Related Problems Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
F. Xavier Medina: FoodLab Research Group (2017SGR 83), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Alicia Aguilar-Martínez: FoodLab Research Group (2017SGR 83), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain
David Sánchez-Carracedo: Eating and Weight-Related Problems Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: conviviality; family meals; Mediterranean diet; meals; adolescents; qualitative research; interviews; commensality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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