ERIC Number: EJ787464
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 9
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1499-4046
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Dietary Change: What Are the Responses and Roles of Significant Others?
Paisley, Judy; Beanlands, Heather; Goldman, Joanne; Evers, Susan; Chappell, Janet
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, v40 n2 p80-88 Mar-Apr 2008
Objective: This study examined the impact of one person's dietary change on the experiences of a significant other with whom they regularly shared meals. Design: Qualitative constant comparison approach using semistructured interviews. Setting: Community-based. Participants: Forty-two participants were recruited using a stratified purposive sampling strategy. Analysis: Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using NUD*IST, version 4.0 software (Qualitative Solutions and Research, Melbourne, Australia, 1997) and manual coding. Results: Most dietary changers had modified their diets in response to a disease diagnosis (eg, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypoglycemia, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), ulcer, allergies). Others had changed their diets for personal reasons (eg, weight loss, vegetarian diets). The dietary changes included dietary fat reduction, conversion to vegetarian or vegan diets, restriction of total kilocalorie intake, and elimination or reduction of specific food items. Significant others described a range of emotional responses to the dietary change, including cooperation, encouragement, skepticism, and anger. Significant others' descriptions of the roles that they played in the dietary change were positive (enabling), neutral (neither enabling nor inhibiting), or negative (inhibiting). Most significant others played positive roles; few played neutral or negative roles. Conclusions and Implications: Understanding dietary change from the perspective of significant others can enable nutrition professionals to develop strategies to promote dietary modifications as a shared activity.
Descriptors: Eating Habits, Interpersonal Relationship, Foreign Countries, Interviews, Behavior Change, Diseases, Body Weight, Health Behavior, Emotional Response, Psychological Patterns, Role
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A