Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating Behaviors

Food-related attitudes and habits are integral to overall well-being, especially among international college students who often practice poor eating habits and experience high levels of stress from factors like school and sociocultural adjustment. Utilizing in-depth interviews, this study explored h...

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Main Author: Car Mun Kok
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mississippi State University 2013-06-01
Series:Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol1/iss1/10/
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author Car Mun Kok
author_facet Car Mun Kok
author_sort Car Mun Kok
collection DOAJ
description Food-related attitudes and habits are integral to overall well-being, especially among international college students who often practice poor eating habits and experience high levels of stress from factors like school and sociocultural adjustment. Utilizing in-depth interviews, this study explored how family experiences impact food-related habits, attitudes, and beliefs of Malaysian college students in the U.S. Findings indicate that early experiences with family substantially impact current habits that persist even after coming to the U.S. and that dietary choices and habits are heavily embedded in cultural background and family history. Family influenced current habits through multiple means, including modeling, direct teaching, and indirectly through various family activities. Even though there were some persistent and lasting eating habits and behaviors, students also experienced some dietary changes and conflicting dietary practices after coming to the U.S. These findings are important for universities to consider so that appropriate steps can be taken to ensure the health and wellbeing of Malaysian and other international students in the U.S.
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spelling doaj.art-31820d8b21fe47059bf38d48d9a6dc662022-12-22T02:29:13ZengMississippi State UniversityJournal of Human Sciences and Extension2325-52262013-06-0111125142https://doi.org/10.54718/YYFC9860Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating BehaviorsCar Mun Kok0University of Nebraska-LincolnFood-related attitudes and habits are integral to overall well-being, especially among international college students who often practice poor eating habits and experience high levels of stress from factors like school and sociocultural adjustment. Utilizing in-depth interviews, this study explored how family experiences impact food-related habits, attitudes, and beliefs of Malaysian college students in the U.S. Findings indicate that early experiences with family substantially impact current habits that persist even after coming to the U.S. and that dietary choices and habits are heavily embedded in cultural background and family history. Family influenced current habits through multiple means, including modeling, direct teaching, and indirectly through various family activities. Even though there were some persistent and lasting eating habits and behaviors, students also experienced some dietary changes and conflicting dietary practices after coming to the U.S. These findings are important for universities to consider so that appropriate steps can be taken to ensure the health and wellbeing of Malaysian and other international students in the U.S.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol1/iss1/10/malaysiansinternational studentsfoodfamilyculturehealthnutrition
spellingShingle Car Mun Kok
Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating Behaviors
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
malaysians
international students
food
family
culture
health
nutrition
title Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating Behaviors
title_full Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating Behaviors
title_fullStr Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating Behaviors
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating Behaviors
title_short Exploring Familial Themes in Malaysian Students’ Eating Behaviors
title_sort exploring familial themes in malaysian students eating behaviors
topic malaysians
international students
food
family
culture
health
nutrition
url https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol1/iss1/10/
work_keys_str_mv AT carmunkok exploringfamilialthemesinmalaysianstudentseatingbehaviors