Exploring meal frequency and vegetable intake among immigrants 70 years or older in Sweden

Secondary analysis of data from the Promoting Aging Migrants Capabilities study

Bibliographic Data

ID5167952
AuthorsJulie Johannesson (0000-0002-1392-5892, Lund University, corresponding author), Susanne Gustafsson (0000-0002-2036-3613, University of Gothenburg), Frode Slinde (0000-0002-3484-2586, University of Gothenburg), Elisabet Rothenberg (0000-0002-3692-7014, Kristianstad University)
Year2021
Volume8
Issue1
Publication date2021-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnic Foods (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2352-6181 • E-ISSN: 2352-619X
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s42779-021-00115-2
OpenAlexW4200437821
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited21

Background Earlier research regarding immigrants has shown that lifestyle and environmental factors are of importance for the risk of developing certain diseases. Food habits are one of these factors. As there is little research concerning immigrants and food habits, the aim of the present paper was to explore food habits operationalised as meal frequency and vegetable intake among a group of older immigrants in Sweden. Specifically, the following questions were explored: changes in food habits when migrating, missing food from the native country, gender differences in food habits and association between food habits and self-rated health and well-being. Method A total of 131 persons from the health-promoting study "Promoting Aging Migrants' Capabilities" (PAMC) conducted in Gothenburg, Sweden, 2011-2014, were included in this exploratory secondary analysis of questionnaire data. Participants were 70 years or older, cognitively intact, and living in ordinary housing. They had all migrated to Sweden from Finland or the Western Balkan Region (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia). Descriptive statistics as well as binary logistic regression were used to answer the research questions. Results Forty-eight percent of the participants in PAMC reported that they had changed their food habits when migrating, and 17% considered that they missed certain foods from their native country. Most of the participants migrated to Sweden more than 20 years ago. There was a significant difference in self-rated health in favour of the male participants (p = 0.02), but food habits, operationalised as meal frequency and vegetable intake, were not associated with self-rated health or life satisfaction. Conclusion Men rated their health as better than women did, but food habits operationalised as meal frequency or vegetable intake, were not associated with self-rated health or life satisfaction. Results from this secondary analysis were affected by methodological shortcomings. Further studies to understand the role of food habits in relation to health in a migration context are desired. Trial registration: NCT01841853, Registered April 29, 2013. Retrospectively registered

Descriptive statistics · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Food habits · Geography · Immigration · Logistic regression · Meal · Meal preparation · Montenegro · Political science · Sociology · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Food Science · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access