Understanding food vulnerability and health literacy in older bereaved men

A qualitative study

Bibliographic Data

ID19507191
AuthorsJill Thompson (0000-0001-9256-1208, School of Nursing and Midwifery The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK, corresponding author), Angela Tod (0000-0001-6336-3747, School of Nursing and Midwifery The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK), Paul Bissell (0000-0001-6503-6205, Human and Health Sciences The University of Huddesfield Harold Wilson Building (HW2) Queensgate Huddersfield HD1 3DH UK), Michael Bond (0000-0002-8267-031X, School of Health and Related Research The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK)
Year2017
Volume20
Issue6
Pages1342-1349
Publication date2017-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Expectations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hex.12574
PMID28544135
OpenAlexW2612471548
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited24

BACKGROUND: Older people are sometimes challenged in maintaining a healthy diet but, because of age and disadvantage, are also more vulnerable to the adverse health consequences of poor nutrition. It has been claimed that older adults have low levels of health literacy regarding food and struggle to discern which foods are healthy from the vast range available in developed counties. However, nutrition and eating behaviour are modifiable risk factors for health in old age and health benefits can accrue from promoting healthy eating later in life. In order to achieve these health benefits, it is necessary to understand more about the capabilities and vulnerabilities of older people in terms of acquiring and maintaining a healthy diet. OBJECTIVE: To understand the potential for issues around food vulnerability to arise in that group and to characterize that vulnerability, if present. DESIGN: Narrative interviews were conducted to collect the data. An interpretative thematic approach to analysis was utilized. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty older, bereaved men from two communities in the North of England. FINDINGS: Five overarching themes were identified: financial security, social networks, cooking skills, food and routine and single servings. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that some older men experience cumulative benefit from resources at their disposal, which contributes towards their capabilities to avoid food vulnerability

Agriculture · Disadvantage · Environmental health · Food choice · Food security · Geography · Health care · Health literacy · Political science · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Nutrition and Health in Aging · Psychology · Gerontology

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