Diet-related chronic health problems are disproportionately present among African-American women in the United States. Family and work roles, intergenerational family ties, and other sociodemographic characteristics of African-American women may affect dietary patterns, and thus have importance for health. The goal of this research was to understand how family roles and relationships influenced the dietary practices and attitudes of African-American women in three generation families. Thirty African-American women from ten families participated in semi-structured, open-ended interviews; each family consisted of three generations of adult women (daughters, mothers, and grandmothers) recruited from community organizations in low to moderate income, urban areas of New York State. A grounded theory approach to qualitative data analysis was used. Study families described four styles for managing food and nutrition that adapted to varying levels of family need, structure, and resources. The management styles incorporated emergent family themes of responsibility, social connections, caretaking, reward, and exchange. All but one of the grandmothers and some mothers reported having chronic health problems, and caring for elderly family members who were in poor health was a major family theme. Disease prevention and health promotion were not expressed as functions of family food and nutrition styles by these women. These findings will assist public health professionals in identify ing opportunities for health promotion among African-American families that build on family values and resources and address a variety of family needs and structures.
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will learn a variety of styles used by three generation families of African-American women to manage food and nutrition. 2. Participants will learn how food and nutrition management styles build on family needs, structure, and resources. 3. Participants will understand the need for health promotion opportunities to fit family food and nutrition management styles
Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.