Amber J Hammons1, Ryan Robart1. 1. Department of Child and Family Science, California State University, Fresno, CA 93740, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic, with its cyclical lockdown restrictions and school closures, has influenced family life. The home, work, and school environments have collided and merged to form a new normal for many families. This merging extends into the family food environment, and little is known about how families are currently navigating this landscape. The objective of the present study was to describe families' adaptations in the family food environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Parents participated in one of 14 virtual focus groups (conducted in English and Spanish between December 2020 and February 2021). Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. RESULTS: Forty-eight parents (81% Hispanic and SES diverse) participated. Five themes and one subtheme were identified around changes in eating habits and mealtime frequency, increases in snacking, family connectedness at mealtimes, and use of screens at meals. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the family food environment. Families shared how their eating habits have changed and that device usage increased at mealtimes. Some changes (e.g., weight gain) may have lasting health implications for both children and parents. Public health officials, pediatricians, and schools should work with families to resume healthy habits post pandemic.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic, with its cyclical lockdown restrictions and school closures, has influenced family life. The home, work, and school environments have collided and merged to form a new normal for many families. This merging extends into the family food environment, and little is known about how families are currently navigating this landscape. The objective of the present study was to describe families' adaptations in the family food environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Parents participated in one of 14 virtual focus groups (conducted in English and Spanish between December 2020 and February 2021). Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. RESULTS: Forty-eight parents (81% Hispanic and SES diverse) participated. Five themes and one subtheme were identified around changes in eating habits and mealtime frequency, increases in snacking, family connectedness at mealtimes, and use of screens at meals. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the family food environment. Families shared how their eating habits have changed and that device usage increased at mealtimes. Some changes (e.g., weight gain) may have lasting health implications for both children and parents. Public health officials, pediatricians, and schools should work with families to resume healthy habits post pandemic.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemic; family food environment; family functioning; family mealtimes
Authors: Erin Hennessy; Sheryl O Hughes; Jeanne P Goldberg; Raymond R Hyatt; Christina D Economos Journal: J Acad Nutr Diet Date: 2011-12-22 Impact factor: 4.910
Authors: Nicholas Carroll; Adam Sadowski; Amar Laila; Valerie Hruska; Madeline Nixon; David W L Ma; Jess Haines Journal: Nutrients Date: 2020-08-07 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Victoria Egli; Lauren Hunter; Rajshri Roy; Lisa Te Morenga; Charlotte De Backer; Lauranna Teunissen; Isabelle Cuykx; Paulien Decorte; Sarah Gerritsen Journal: Front Nutr Date: 2022-06-14
Authors: P Nowicka; A Ek; I E Jurca-Simina; C Bouzas; E Argelich; K Nordin; S García; M Y Vasquez Barquero; U Hoffer; H Reijs Richards; J A Tur; A Chirita-Emandi; K Eli Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-05-17 Impact factor: 4.135