Climacteric and Menopausal Women's Beliefs on Daily Meals and Food Supplements - A Focus Group Interview Study -

Article information

Korean J Community Nutr. 2011;16(2):239-252

Publication date (electronic) : 2011 April 30

doi : https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.2.239

Jeong-Soon Pyun , Mi Jeong Kim ¹, Kyung-Hea Lee

Department of Changwon National University, Changwon, Korea.

¹Department of Food and Nutrition, Silla University, Busan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Kyung-Hea Lee, Department of Food and Nutrition, Changwon University, #9 Sarim-Dong, Changwon 641-773, Korea. Tel: (055) 213-3514, Fax: (055) 281-7480, khl@sarim.changwon.ac.kr

Received 2011 March 02; Revised 2011 March 16; Accepted 2011 April 04.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the current status as well as personal views, attitudes, and beliefs regarding daily meal consumption (DM) and food supplement use (FS) in conjunction with the improvement of health condition of the women. Eight focus group interviews were performed and the interview material was condensed systematically with the aim to extract core meanings related to DM, FS, and menopause-associated health. Participants were 40 in number and showed ages ranging from 45 and 60 years with various menopausal status. Current status and beliefs about DM, resources of purchase motivation of FS, types of FS that are currently used, and perceived effects and personal beliefs about FS are discussed. Theme content analysis revealed 3 themes for beliefs about DM, 5 themes for beliefs pertaining FS, and 4 themes for the association between DM and FS. Non-dietary factors such as positive mental attitude and exercise appeared to be also important to maintain good health. The bottom line message from this study may be that proper nutrition through daily meals is essential for good health, while food supplement are used merely to supplement the diet. Findings from this study may deepen our understanding of how women who translate their lifespan through "menopause" perceive the roles and meaning of DM and FS, suggesting health professionals need to monitor and evaluate DM and implement strategies targeting the improvement of daily meal quality of middle and older aged women.

Keywords: focus group interview; menopausal women; daily meals; food supplements; climacteric symptoms

Notes

This study was supported by the 2009 research fund(09-41) from Management Center for Health Promotion in Republic of Korea.

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