It's who I am and what we eat. Mothers' food-related identities in family food choice
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It's who I am and what we eat. Mothers' food-related identities in family food choice. / Johnson, Cassandra M.; Sharkey, Joseph R.; Dean, Wesley R.; Alex McIntosh, W.; Kubena, Karen S.
In: Appetite, Vol. 57, No. 1, 2011, p. 220-228.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - It's who I am and what we eat. Mothers' food-related identities in family food choice
AU - Johnson, Cassandra M.
AU - Sharkey, Joseph R.
AU - Dean, Wesley R.
AU - Alex McIntosh, W.
AU - Kubena, Karen S.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - This study aimed to understand mothers' everyday food choices using one type of visual method-participant-driven photo-elicitation (PDPE). The sample consisted of 12 low/moderate income mothers (26-53 years) living in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Each mother completed a photography activity, where she created photographs of her food experience, and an in-depth interview using the mother's photographs. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach and coded using qualitative data analysis software ATLAS.ti. Mothers emphasized their identities related to food and eating as they described food-related decisions and activities. These identities influenced a mother's food choices for herself and those she made for her children. Analysis revealed that mothers with a more defined health identity made healthier choices for themselves and similar food choices for their children. In addition, they exhibited behaviors that positively influenced their children's food choices. Mothers who struggled to see themselves as healthy indulged with more junk food and indicated feelings of anxiety and guilt; these mothers' food choices were more disconnected from their children's. These findings underscore the importance of understanding how identities related to food and eating can influence food choices. Encouraging mothers to develop and maintain health identities may be one way to improve food and eating habits in families.
AB - This study aimed to understand mothers' everyday food choices using one type of visual method-participant-driven photo-elicitation (PDPE). The sample consisted of 12 low/moderate income mothers (26-53 years) living in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Each mother completed a photography activity, where she created photographs of her food experience, and an in-depth interview using the mother's photographs. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach and coded using qualitative data analysis software ATLAS.ti. Mothers emphasized their identities related to food and eating as they described food-related decisions and activities. These identities influenced a mother's food choices for herself and those she made for her children. Analysis revealed that mothers with a more defined health identity made healthier choices for themselves and similar food choices for their children. In addition, they exhibited behaviors that positively influenced their children's food choices. Mothers who struggled to see themselves as healthy indulged with more junk food and indicated feelings of anxiety and guilt; these mothers' food choices were more disconnected from their children's. These findings underscore the importance of understanding how identities related to food and eating can influence food choices. Encouraging mothers to develop and maintain health identities may be one way to improve food and eating habits in families.
KW - Family
KW - Food choice
KW - Health
KW - Identity
KW - Mothers
KW - Participant-driven photo-elicitation (PDPE)
KW - Visual methods
U2 - 10.1016/j.appet.2011.04.025
DO - 10.1016/j.appet.2011.04.025
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21600253
AN - SCOPUS:79959506342
VL - 57
SP - 220
EP - 228
JO - Appetite
JF - Appetite
SN - 0195-6663
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 255456103