Korean J Fam Med.  2018 Nov;39(6):340-346. 10.4082/kjfm.17.0060.

The Association between Family Mealtime and Depression in Elderly Koreans

• Kang Y
• Kang S
• Kim KJ
• Ko H
• Shin J
• Song YM

• KMID: 2426826
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.17.0060

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Several studies have revealed the frequency of family mealtimes to be inversely associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, there have been few studies in older populations. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between family mealtime frequency and depressive symptoms in elderly Koreans.
METHODS
This study analyzed 4,959 elderly men and women (aged 65 years or older) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess depressive status, family mealtime frequency, and covariates. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association using the eating alone group as a reference.
RESULTS
After adjusting for all covariates, participants who had family meals 3 times a day had fewer depressive symptoms than the eating alone group; adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were 0.72 (0.58-0.89) for point depressiveness/anxiety and 0.73 (0.56-0.94) for depressiveness lasting for at least 2 weeks. In suicidal ideation, the OR (95% CI) of eating with family twice a day was significant after full adjusting for covariates at 0.67 (0.50-0.88).
CONCLUSION
Family mealtimes were closely associated with depressive symptoms in elderly Koreans, which suggests that maintaining intrafamilial bonding is important for mental health in an older population.

Keyword

Aged; Depression; Family Relations; Meals; Koreans

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Aged*
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression*
Eating
Family Relations
Female
Humans
Korea
Logistic Models
Male
Meals*
Mental Health
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Suicidal Ideation