Living alone does not adversely affect nutrient intake and nutritional status of 70-to 75-year-old men and women in small towns across Europe

Abstract

This study determined the relationships between living alone and a variety of sociodemographic variables and dietary intake and nutritional status of 70- to 75-year-old men and women across Europe. Data from nine centers, collected as part of the SENECA study, were selected for analysis. Respondents were categorized as either living alone, living with a spouse/partner only, or living with a spouse/partner and/or other person(s). Analyses included chi-square statistics, t-tests, and analysis of variance, measures of relationships and differences between residential-status groups. The sample included 512 subjects who lived alone, 1017 who lived with a spouse/partner only, and 380 who lived with a spouse/partner and/or other person(s). Variables which differed significantly by living arrangement included higher vitamin A, calcium, riboflavin and water intake by both males and females living alone as compared to either those living with a spouse, those living with others, or both groups. Females who lived alone had lower energy intake than those who lived with other than a spouse/partner, and women who lived alone or as couples versus those who lived with others had lower protein and carbohydrate intakes. Males who lived alone had significantly lower intakes of vitamin C than those who lived with person(s) other than a spouse, but still they were considerably above recommended levels. Respondents who lived with a spouse/partner only were less likely to have an unfavorable BMI status than people in the other two groups. Thus, nutrient intakes of 70- to 75-year-olds across Europe are generally not adversely impacted by living alone, and relative to some nutrients, namely vitamin A, calcium, and riboflavin, their diets are better than those living in one or both of the other residential categories.

Age, marital status and changes in dietary habits in later life: a 21-year follow-up among Finnish women

“…Our finding, that dietary habits were healthier among couples than among single older female respondents, varies from that reported in the SENECA study (Survey in Europe on Nutrition and the Elderly; a Concerted Action) of 70-to 75-year-old men and women in small towns across Europe in the late 1980s to the late 1990s (37) , but it concurs with other prior research (4,18,38) . One crosssectional study (38) has shown among younger women that marital status may not be as strong a predictor of healthy eating habits as parental status.…”

Body mass index, overweight and obesity in married and never married men and women in Poland

“…In addition, parental status extracts a full daily food board in the family. As such, married individuals may eat more regularly and have better eating patterns, including higher energy intake, than people who live alone (Pearson et al, 1998;Donkin et al, 1998). Variable eating patterns may be a factor among those who live alone.…”

A concept analysis of malnutrition in the elderly

“…Financial dependency is common in this population. The elderly at greater risk of malnutrition are those who live in poverty or have incomes that limit their ability to maintain their lifestyles (Pearson et al . 1998).…”