Psychosocial factors influencing the eating behaviours of older adults: A systematic review

As research on eating behaviors in later life has largely focused on malnutrition’s physiological and biological impacts, interventions have primarily concentrated on correcting nutritional deficiencies. However, there is a growing need to explore strategies that help older adults eat well and enjoy their food-related lives as they age. The purpose of this review by Walker-Clarke, Walasek & Meyer (2022) is to provide an overview of the state of knowledge about the psychosocial elements influencing eating habits in older individuals.  After conducting thorough searches and evaluations, 53 articles (22 qualitative and 31 quantitative) were analyzed to understand better the mechanisms that shape these behaviors. Eight major psychosocial variables impacting eating in later life were found by the review: (1) Mental health and mood, (2) food emotions and enjoyment, (3) eating arrangements, (4) social facilitation, (5) social support, (6) health awareness and attitudes, (7) food decision-making, (8) perceived dietary control. It also highlighted the lasting impact of early food experiences on later-life eating habits. The review concludes by calling for further research into these psychosocial factors, improvements in research methodologies, and a better understanding of the barriers and enablers that influence healthy eating in later life. [NPID: Ageing, older adults, eating behaviors, influences, dietary outcomes, psychosocial]

Year: 2022

Reference: Walker-Clarke, A., Walasek, L., & Meyer, C. (2022). Psychosocial factors influencing the eating behaviours of older adults: A systematic review. Ageing Research Reviews, 77, 101597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2022.101597

Related Studies

Examination of how food environment and psychological factors interact in their relationship with dietary behaviours: test of a cross-sectional model

This 2019 study examined the synergistic and relative association between a number of food environmental and psychological factors with the dietary behaviors of 921 women with young children. The female participants from Hampshire were asked about their demographic characteristics, psychological resources, dietary behaviors and perceptions of healthy food access and affordability. Three local food environment […]

The association between loneliness or social isolation and food and eating behaviours: A scoping review.

Research has shown correlations between food, eating habits, loneliness or social isolation, and significant health repercussions. Dietary habits and loneliness are acknowledged as health factors that should be the focus of individual, group, and population-level interventions. However, the level of evidence evaluating such connections remains insufficient. In this scoping review, Hanna et al. (2023) compiled […]