"I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many complex and subtle aspects relating to mothers and food choice are not well understood. Mothers play a primary role in their children's food choices, but research has not specifically examined how matrilineal family members...

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Main Authors: Sharkey Joseph R, Johnson Cassandra M, McIntosh Alex W, Dean Wesley R
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-06-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6874/10/21
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author Sharkey Joseph R
Johnson Cassandra M
McIntosh Alex W
Dean Wesley R
author_facet Sharkey Joseph R
Johnson Cassandra M
McIntosh Alex W
Dean Wesley R
author_sort Sharkey Joseph R
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many complex and subtle aspects relating to mothers and food choice are not well understood. Mothers play a primary role in their children's food choices, but research has not specifically examined how matrilineal family members who do not reside in the same household, such as a mother's mother, aunt, or grandmother, influence the current family's food choices.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seven participants were recruited from the Household Food Inventory (HFI) Study in the Bryan/College Station, Texas. All participants completed an in-depth interview, photographed food-related activities, and discussed photographs in a follow-up in-depth interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim from audio recordings. Transcripts were analyzed using several qualitative approaches including grounded theory to identify themes and subthemes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants discussed the following themes relating to the influence of their mother or other female relation (Mom) on their families' food choices: Relationship with Mom, Just like Mom, 'Kinda' like Mom, Different than Mom, and Mom's Influence on Children's Food Choices. Overall, participants used the photographs to illustrate how they were similar or different to their mothers, or other female family member, as well as how their mothers either supported or undermined control over their children's food choices. The "Mom effect" or matrilineal influence of mothers, aunts, and grandmothers on a mother's food choices was omnipresent, even though Mom was no longer living with the participants.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found a matrilineal influence to have a residual and persistent influence on a family's food choices. This finding may be helpful for understanding the contextual elements of food choice and explaining why it is sometimes difficult to change mothers' food habits.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-2a8b4ed3878b4746a52b24a3757625cb2022-12-21T18:50:09ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742010-06-011012110.1186/1472-6874-10-21"I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choiceSharkey Joseph RJohnson Cassandra MMcIntosh Alex WDean Wesley R<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many complex and subtle aspects relating to mothers and food choice are not well understood. Mothers play a primary role in their children's food choices, but research has not specifically examined how matrilineal family members who do not reside in the same household, such as a mother's mother, aunt, or grandmother, influence the current family's food choices.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seven participants were recruited from the Household Food Inventory (HFI) Study in the Bryan/College Station, Texas. All participants completed an in-depth interview, photographed food-related activities, and discussed photographs in a follow-up in-depth interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim from audio recordings. Transcripts were analyzed using several qualitative approaches including grounded theory to identify themes and subthemes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants discussed the following themes relating to the influence of their mother or other female relation (Mom) on their families' food choices: Relationship with Mom, Just like Mom, 'Kinda' like Mom, Different than Mom, and Mom's Influence on Children's Food Choices. Overall, participants used the photographs to illustrate how they were similar or different to their mothers, or other female family member, as well as how their mothers either supported or undermined control over their children's food choices. The "Mom effect" or matrilineal influence of mothers, aunts, and grandmothers on a mother's food choices was omnipresent, even though Mom was no longer living with the participants.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found a matrilineal influence to have a residual and persistent influence on a family's food choices. This finding may be helpful for understanding the contextual elements of food choice and explaining why it is sometimes difficult to change mothers' food habits.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6874/10/21
spellingShingle Sharkey Joseph R
Johnson Cassandra M
McIntosh Alex W
Dean Wesley R
"I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice
BMC Women's Health
title "I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice
title_full "I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice
title_fullStr "I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice
title_full_unstemmed "I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice
title_short "I'm the Momma": Using photo-elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice
title_sort i m the momma using photo elicitation to understand matrilineal influence on family food choice
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6874/10/21
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