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Healthy Aging at Family Mealtimes: Associations of Clean Cooking, Protein Intake, and Dining Together with Mental Health of Chinese Older Adults amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Shuai Zhou

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China)

  • Xiangying Ding

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China)

  • Janet Tsin Yee Leung

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China)

Abstract

The present study aims to examine whether multiple dietary factors affect the mental health of older adults amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It proposes an integrative dietary framework that highlights environmental, nutritional, and social aspects of diet for healthy aging. Based on a sample of 7858 Chinese older adults, the associations between diet and depressive symptoms, along with the rural–urban divide, were examined using zero-inflated negative binomial regression. Overall, protein intake (incidence-rate ratio [IRR] = 0.89, p < 0.001), frequency of family dining together (IRR = 0.98, p < 0.001), and using tap water for cooking (IRR = 0.92, p < 0.01) were associated with lower incidence rates of depressive symptoms among older adults. Among rural older adults, frequency of family dining together (IRR = 0.97, p < 0.001) and tap water use (IRR = 0.89, p < 0.001) were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. However, urban residents who had a higher frequency of family dining together (IRR = 0.98, p < 0.05) and protein intake (IRR = 0.81, p < 0.001) exhibited fewer depressive symptoms. The findings revealed multifaceted dietary pathways towards healthy aging, which call for policies and interventions that improve diet quality for community-dwelling older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuai Zhou & Xiangying Ding & Janet Tsin Yee Leung, 2023. "Healthy Aging at Family Mealtimes: Associations of Clean Cooking, Protein Intake, and Dining Together with Mental Health of Chinese Older Adults amid COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1672-:d:1038500
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    References listed on IDEAS

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