• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.40-55
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information on the development of nutrition education programs to improve the mealtime behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by investigating the mealtime behavior and food preferences of children with ASD through the perception of special education teachers. Surveys were given to 108 special education teachers in special education schools in Korea regarding the demographic characteristics, nutrition education support needs, mealtime behavior, and food preferences of children with ASD. Most of the special education teachers responded that nutrition education in special schools had not been conducted properly and nutrition education for ASD children is necessary. Mealtime behavior analysis classified the behavior into three clusters: cluster 1, 'less problematic mealtime behavior'; cluster 2, 'general feature of autism'; cluster 3, 'difficulty in self-directed diet'. The age, eating habits, and food preferences were different according to each mealtime behavior cluster. Therefore, it will be necessary to develop a nutrition education program based on the characteristics of mealtime behavior.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.361-375
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• 2018

This study recognizes the changes of the father's role and the importance of family mealtimes as well as examines the individual, family and social contexts surrounding the father's family mealtime. This study analyzed the trend of the father's family mealtime frequency and factors affecting them in order to explore the current conditions of their father's work and family balance through family mealtimes. Data from 492 fathers who have school aged children were collected through an online survey. The overall trend of the frequency of father's family meals showed an average of 2.4 breakfasts and an average of 3.2 dinners per week. The frequency of the father's family meals showed statistically significant differences according to the father's age, children's school age, dual income, weekly working hours, working flexibility, leaving on-time and the priority of work and family. The analysis of hierarchical linear regressions was conducted to determine factors affecting the frequency of father's family mealtime to show that the frequency of father's family mealtime was best explained by father's working conditions and perception variables. Working conditions such as working hours, leaving work on time, working flexibility were significant variables in regards to the father's family mealtime frequency. The father's perception towards parental efficacy, wife's support, and work-family priority were significant factors in regards to the father's family mealtime frequency. This study is meaningful in that it provides basic data on policy making for the compatibility of the father's work and family.

• Food Quality and Culture
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2007

This study was performed to describe the perceptions of the family mealtime environment in preadolescents, and to determine the frequency of family meals and whether the mealtime environment is associated with nutrient intake. Surveys and 24-hour dietary recalls were completed by 197 children, ages 11 to 12, in elementary schools in the Incheon area. We assessed family meal frequency and the perceptions of the family meal environment with respect to priority, atmosphere, and family mealtime structure. The subject response frequencies and correlations among perceptions of the family mealtime environment, as well as the frequency of family meals and nutrient intake, were analyzed. Having a greater priority for family meals was associated with an increased frequency of family mealtimes. An enjoyable family meal environment was positively correlated with increases in nutrient intake. From the results of this study, we suggest that consideration be placed on opportunities to design nutrition promotion strategies that target families and their children, with respect to promoting family mealtimes and overcoming the barriers to having family meals.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.103-116
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of family mealtime on the childrens' school adaptation. This study uses data from the 2012 Survey on Child Education and School Involvement of Parents by the Center for Family-School Partnership Policy Research at Seoul National University. Survey data was collected from 1500 parents with school-aged children. For the data analysis, Chi sqaure test and hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted. The results of these analyses showed that the numbers of family meals shared averaged 4.26 times per week for breakfast and 4.33 times per week for dinner. There were significant differences in the number of family meals shared together according to school level, residence area, and parent employment status, and household income. In addition, childrens' school adaptation was significantly different depending on school level, parent gender, parent education, and parent employment status. Finally, according to the hierarchical regression analyses, the number of family meals shared significantly predicted childrens' school adaptation. The greater number of family meals shared, the stronger the childrens' school adaptation. These results indicate that family mealtime has a positive effect on childrens' school adaptation. This study suggests that family mealtime is an indicator of family strength and it needs to guarantee family shared time at least to have a dinner together. This study could provide grounds for making family policy and education policy in order to guarantee family shared time.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.112-124
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate how child-care teachers participate, practice mealtime instruction, and perceive difficulties in food service, focusing on comparison between the teachers caring two different age groups: children younger than three years (Younger Group) and those three years or older (Older Group). Questionnaires were distributed to 151 child-care centers in Kwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea during December, 2011. Only the data from 25 child-care centers, where two respective teachers in charge of Younger Group and Older Group completed the questionnaires, were analyzed. The results showed that there was no difference in terms of child-care teachers' participation in food service practice between the two groups, except for serving method; 'Pre-plated' serving was used significantly more often in Younger Group, whereas 'Line-up' serving was used in Older Group. Approximately, three quarters of the child-care centers had policies or guidelines on mealtime instruction. During mealtime, child-care teachers tended to use frequently verbal instructions such as "sit up straight when you eat" about eating manner, "don't be picky with your food" about eating habit, and "wash your hands before eating" about eating procedure in both the groups. There was no statistically significant difference regarding child-care teachers' perceived difficulties in food service between the two groups. These results indicated that child-care teachers' participation and mealtime instruction in food service did not differ between the two age groups, although children's development of digestion and eating skill differed by age. Therefore, training should be provided to child-care teachers about food service practices and mealtime instruction appropriate to children's age.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.788-794
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between regular mealtime, oral health knowledge and oral health to prevent dental impairment of college students. This research design is correlation study. Data of 903 were collected from June 1 to June 30, 2010. Data were analyzed using the SPSS PASW Statistics 18.0 Program. More than 50% of respondents were the irregular mealtime. Higher percentage of correct answer in the oral health knowledge showed periodontal disease prevention(82.6%). There were a statistical significant in grade, major, smoking, drinking, and wishing for dental care between general characteristics and regular mealtime respectively(p<.05). Between general characteristics and oral health knowledge were a statistical significant in gender, age, grade, smoking, and dental checkup respectively(p<.05). On the other hand, there was a statistical significant wishing for dental care between general characteristics and oral health(p<.001). Regular mealtime was negatively associated with oral health(p<.01). Education for oral health should include regular mealtime, prohibit of smoking and alcohol, right toothbrushing and so on.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of family mealtime and family functioning (family cohesion, family adaptability, and communication with father and mother) on early adolescent school adaptation. Data of 3,145 middle school students from the Survey on the Family Values and Lives among Adolescents(2010) conducted by National Youth Policy Institute(NYPI) were used. The findings are as follows. First, there were significant differences in the frequency of having breakfast and dinner with father and having breakfast with mother, family cohesion, and communication with father according to gender. Second, hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that household economic status, mother's employment status and adolescents' gender among demographic characteristics, having breakfast with father and having dinner with mother in family mealtime frequency, and all the variables of family functioning predicted adolescents' school adaptation. Finally, economic status, having dinner with mother, family cohesion, and communication with father and mother were associated with adolescents' school adaptation for both boys and girls. Mother's education and having breakfast with father were found to be significant for only boys, while mother's employment status and family adaptability were found to be significant for only girls. These findings could provide grounds for making family and education policy.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.307-316
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of shift nurses' mealtime experience on duty. This study was explored by hermeneutic phenomenological analytic method suggested by van Manen. The participants were shift nurses at two general hospitals in Korea. Six participants were interviewed until information reached saturation point. Data was collected through individual in-depth interviews. The results of study were emerged 7 themes. Each theme was :'Forgetting hunger.', 'Fatigue takes precedence over hunger.', 'Feeling sorry and becoming conscious of other colleagues.', 'Inhale the meal in a short time.', 'Conflicting between responsibility for the patient body and my body', 'They want look for freedom and right through their mealtime.', 'Hope that mealtime is a precious time.' The results of this study are significant in providing a convergence understanding of the working environment of the shift nurses.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.206-219
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• 2023

Objectives: Screen time refers to the time spent using screen media, such as televisions, smartphones, computers, or tablets. Excessive exposure to screen media has been reported to negatively impact young children's health and development, including overweight, short sleep duration, and language delays. This study examined the association of screen time and mealtime media use with dietary behaviors among preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on parents of children aged three to five years using the online questionnaires of the Nutrition Quotient for Preschoolers (NQ-P) and the Dietary Screening Test (DST). Data from 261 children's parents were analyzed. Results: Of the 261 children, 96.9% used screen media, 55.6% used screen media for two hours or more daily, and 30.7% were exposed to screen media during meals. The NQ-P scores were significantly lower in the children with longer screen time and mealtime media use. Children who used screen media for two hours or more and those exposed to screen media during meals consumed kimchi less frequently and confectionery and sugar-sweetened beverages more frequently than children who used less than two hours and were not exposed to screen media during meals. In addition, they were more likely to be picky about food, refuse to eat, and less likely to feed themselves than children with shorter screen time and no mealtime media use. Conclusions: This study reported an association between unhealthy dietary behaviors, feeding difficulties, and screen time and mealtime media use among preschool children. Further research should explore effective strategies for reducing children's screen time.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2013

In this study, we examined chewing frequency, eating rates, and food consumption volume according to the body mass index of male and female college students. Twenty-five male college students were divided into a normal weight male group (<23 body mass index, n=14) and an obese male group (${\geq}23$ body mass index, n=11). Twenty-five female college students were divided into a normal weight female group (<23 body mass index, n=21) and an obese female group (${\geq}23$ body mass index, n=4). Subjects were provided with abundant fried rice and allowed to consume it at their own pace. Chewing frequency, total mealtime, rate of eating, consumption volume, calorie intake, and the amount of one bite were measured. There were no significant differences in chewing frequency, total mealtime, rate of eating, consumption volume, calorie intake, and the amount of one bite between the normal and obese male groups. There were also no significant differences in chewing frequency, consumption volume, calorie intake, and the amount of one bite between the normal and obese female groups. However, the obese female group had a significantly shorter mealtime and significantly higher eating rate compared with the normal group. Thus, our study suggests that females who eat a meal for a longer time may reduce their food intake, consequently inducing body weight loss.