Korean J Community Nutr.  2020 Jun;25(3):204-213. 10.5720/kjcn.2020.25.3.204.

ary Characteristics and Needs for Community Kitchens among Young Adults of Single-person Households in Seoul according to the Cooking Attitude

• Yang M
• Asano K
• Kim N
• Yoon J

• KMID: 2504060
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2020.25.3.204

Abstract

Objectives
This study examined the dietary characteristics and needs for community kitchens among young adults of single-person households in Seoul according to the cooking attitude.
Methods
During April 2018, an online survey was conducted on young adults of singleperson households in their 20s and 30s residing in Seoul. The respondents were classified into the more positive cooking attitude group (More Positive Group; n=152, mean=4.11) and the less positive cooking attitude group (Less Positive Group; n=190, mean=3.03) based on the mean score (3.51) of the 4-item 5-point Likert scales measuring the cooking attitude. The responses of the two groups were compared.
Results
Approximately 90% of the More Positive Group had the cooking ability to prepare ordinary meals or more advanced cooking skills, whereas only 61% of the Less Positive Group had such skills. Approximately a half of the More Positive Group cooked at home three times a week or more; only 30% of the Less Positive Group did so, and more than 30% of the group seldom cooked. The More Positive Group had higher mean scores in the levels of satisfaction with dietary life and care for food safety and nutrition than the Less Positive Group. Approximately 30% of all the respondents expressed their needs for community kitchens. The most frequently answered reason for such needs was “being able to have a meal with others”.
Conclusions
The young adults of single-person households with a more positive cooking attitude possessed a higher cooking ability, cooked more often, and cared more about food safety and nutrition than those with a less positive cooking attitude. There were moderate needs for community kitchens among young adults of single-person households living in Seoul. Therefore, societal efforts to improve their cooking attitude would be meaningful for improving their quality of dietary life. Cooking lessons or social dining programs based on community kitchens could be an option.

Keyword

one-person household; cooking skill; dietary life; shared kitchen; online survey