Individual and interpersonal factors affecting dietary intake of community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: As older adults are at higher risk for severe illness and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection, social distancing has been a primary means of mitigating risk. However, this lifestyle change may impact eating habits and food choices. The aim of this study was to explore individual and interpersonal factors affecting the eating behaviours and dietary intake of community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data were analysed using a deductive content analysis approach to identify themes. Setting: Southeastern United States Participants: Twenty-three men and women, 60 years of age and older (mean age 71·9 ± 7·7, 22 % male), completed both the interview and questionnaire. Results: Themes that emerged at the individual level included changes in eating habits and foods eaten, with most participants reporting healthier food choices during the pandemic. Participants also reported more frequent cooking, improved cooking skills and cooking as a form of stress relief. Although some older adults described increased snacking and consumption of ‘comfort foods’, others noted no influence of mood on food choices. At the interpersonal level, an increased use of technology for social interaction and the importance of social support were identified as influencing factors. Conclusions: Findings provide insight on how to help older adults maintain good nutrition amidst lifestyle changes imposed by social distancing. Nutrition educators may capitalise on positive behaviour changes that occurred during the pandemic such as increased cooking and increased use of technology for social interaction.

Sex-Specific Dietary Patterns and Social Behaviour in Low-Risk Individuals

“…An active role in the community is a strong indicator of social support and amplifies integration into society. In a few studies, social factors such as informal networks have been identified to have an influence on food-related behaviours [39][40][41]. If we assume that active participation in a club helps to avoid social isolation, our findings are in line with previous studies.…”

A Mixed Methods Exploration of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food-Related Activities and Diet Quality in People with Parkinson Disease

“…This is a unique finding as a previous study reported the beneficial association from adults who cooked at home more during the pandemic [ 32 ]. Another study with older adults reported cooking as a form of entertainment and a stress reliever from the pandemic [ 33 ]. From the present study, the lack of socializing may have further increased care-partner stress as social isolation has been shown to be associated with nutrition risk for older adults [ 34 ].…”