Abstract
Objective
To investigate the association between frequency of eating together and health-related
quality of life (HRQoL).
Design
Population-based cross-sectional study.
Participants and Setting
A total of 13,920 adults (≥19 years). Data obtained from the Korea National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2014 to 2016. The European Quality
of Life-5 Dimensions index was used to assess the HRQoL.
Main Outcome Measures
Relation between the frequency of eating together (eating alone, 1 time/d, and ≥2
times/d) and HRQoL.
Analysis
ANOVA, correlations, and multivariable logistic regression.
Results
A significantly positive association was observed between the frequency of eating
together and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions index (P < .001). An increase in the frequency of eating together was associated with decreased
odds ratios of having problems in subdimensions (self-care, usual activities, and
anxiety or depression; P for trend <.005).
Conclusions and Implications
A decreased frequency of eating together is associated with low HRQoL. Additional
work is warranted to confirm the association between the frequency of eating together
and HRQoL in young adults, aged 19–64 years. Further studies are required to identify
whether an intervention to increase the frequency of eating together would improve
HRQoL in individuals who usually eat alone.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 25, 2019
Accepted:
November 20,
2019
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors have not stated any conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
