• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.85-100
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• 2020

Eating alone has recently become a very common dietary pattern in modern society. This study investigated the relationship between the frequency of eating alone and health related issues including chronic diseases, depression, and the quality of life (QOL). The 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey provided the basic data for this study. According to the general analysis of 4,910 adults aged over 19 years or older, the average age in the 'eating alone' group was significantly higher (P<0.001), and the ratio of single-person households was significantly higher as the number of times of eating alone increased (P<0.001). Analysis of the relationship between the risk factors of metabolic syndrome according to the number of times eating alone, using logistic regression analysis, showed that the odds ratio of metabolic syndrome in the 'two times eating alone a day' group was approximately 1.3 times higher (OR=1.275) after being corrected for gender, age and energy intake. For the 'three times eating alone a day' group, the metabolic syndrome odds ratio was higher in all models except for model 1 and 5 (P for trend<0.05). The prevalence of depression using patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was higher as the number of eating alone increased, and the QOL was inversly related with the number of meals eating alone (P for trend<0.01). We hope the results of this study will raise awareness of the health of those people who eat alone and lay the groundwork for individuals who eat alone and gain social attention.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.483-496
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• 2020

This study examined the effects of eating alone, meal type, and dietary lifestyles on healthy eating capability of one-person households. We analyzed the mediation effects of weekly frequencies of each meal type taken by one-person households between eating habits such as eating alone and dietary lifestyles of one-person households and healthy eating capability. We also analyzed data from the 2019 Food Consumption Behavior Survey using a sample of 688 one-person households. Factor analysis, latent profile analysis, structural equation model analysis was conducted; direct and indirect effects of independent variables were tested using bootstrap method. The major results were as follows. Frequency of eating alone was about 10 times a week on average; one-person households had home-made meals about 12 times a week, for restaurant meals, 4 times, for delivered/take-out food, 0.39 times, and for other types, 0.44 times. Weekly frequencies of eating alone and meal types taken by one-person households were significantly different among the different socio-demographic groups. Dietary lifestyle was classified into four classes: traditional, health ignorant, food lifestyle ignorant, and balanced. Eating alone and dietary lifestyle had a significant effect on weekly frequency of each meal type. Frequencies of eating alone, balanced dietary lifestyle, and taking home-made meals had a positive direct effect on healthy eating capability, and frequency of taking delivered or take-out food and food consumption ignorant lifestyle had a negative direct effect. Eating alone, balanced and traditional dietary lifestyles had a positive indirect effect through the meal type; however, watching Mug-bang had a negative indirect effect.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2018

Objectives : Despite the lack of domestic research, eating alone has been reported to be related to depression. We investigated correlation between eating alone, and depression, among women age 65 and older. Methods : Among women registered in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 1,119 elderly in 2014, and 1,189 in 2016, were analyzed. Eating alone and the degree of depression were assessed, using a questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 respectively. The relationship between eating alone and depression, was analyzed using multilevel logistic regression. Results : In 2014 data, eating alone had significant effect on depression, as the explanatory power is increased to 30.4% in a 'three meals eating alone a day' group (${\beta}=0.128$, p<0.05), when the eating alone parameter is added to demographic factors and health characteristics. In 2016, exploitation of 'the frequency of eating alone' variable led to increment of explanatory power to 22.3%, that was not statistically significant. Conclusion : The result of this study suggests that eating alone among women age 65 and older, was a risk factor of depression in 2014, and is becoming a new life pattern as a social and cultural phenomenon in 2016.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.280-287
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• 2003

To investigate effects of the shared living on nutrient intakes,250 college male students who were living alone (104 men) or sharing accommodation with friends (134 men) were participated. Their average age was 22.6 years, their average height was 171.8 cm, their average weight was 65.6 kg and their average Body Mass Index (BMI) was 22.2. The caloric intakes of the men living alone or sharing accommodation were 55.9% and 72.5% of the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), respectively. The decreased caloric level of the group living alone seemed to be due to their decreased protein and fat consumption as compared to that of the group sharing accommodation. The group living alone consumed increased amounts of fiber for breakfast and half the carbohydrates, but more fat (p < 0.05) in snacks than the group sharing accommodation. The daily carbohydrate : protein : fat (C : P : F) ratio averaged 58.6 14.1 27.3, which is a lower carbohydrate and a higher fat ratio than the Korean recommended ratio. However, the group living alone was closer to the Korean recommended ratio than the group sharing accommodation. The food intake habits were evaluated as being poorer in the group living alone as compared to the group sharing accommodation, less frequent consumption of fried / pan-fried dishes, and fruits / juices, but more frequent consumption of instant / processed foods. In comparing the eating patterns of the two groups, the group living alone showed better eating habits, such as more“breakfast eating”and less“snacking in the morning, afternoon or late at night”whereas the group sharing accommodation showed better eating habits such as less“picky eaters”and less “eating out”. In the group living alone, their lower caloric intake was assumably due to their fewer side dishes, however they showed higher eating frequencies of instant i processed foods. Since the lifestyle of living alone seems to grow gradually among young men, we strongly recommend dietary education for them.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.408-421
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• 2019

Objectives: This study compared the dietary behaviors of single-person households when eating alone according to the employment pattern and age. Methods: A total of 566 people aged 20~59 years old were collected from the status of workers and classified into three groups according to their employment pattern (regular, non-regular workers and business owner). The subjects were collected by purposive quota sampling on a Gallup panel from June to November in 2017. The dietary behavior and perception of eating alone of the subjects were surveyed via online and self-reported questionnaires. Results: The frequency of eating alone was significantly higher in the regular group than the non-regular group and business group (p<0.01). The place of eating alone was significantly higher in the regular and non-regular group in the convenience store, and business group in the office (p<0.001). Ramen, the menu when eating alone, was significantly higher in the non-regular group than the other groups (p<0.01). The preference for eating alone was lower in the older age group (p<0.05). The young aged group (aged 20~30) ate more fast food and felt more convenience than the older aged group aged 40~50 years (p<0.05). Conclusions: Single-person households with a non-regular job have poorer dietary behavior in eating alone than those who had regular employment. In a situation of an increasing number of non-regular workers aged in their 20s and 30s, there is a high likelihood of social problems, such as health and poverty. This study highlights the need for a healthy food selection environment to improve the dietary life of single-person households with non-regular jobs for the diverse types of single-person households.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.531-542
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• 2018

This study was conducted to compare solo eating perceptions and dietary behaviors in the Seoul and Gyonggi-do regions according to gender. The study focused on the dietary perceptions, solo eating, eating together, dietary habits, food intake patterns and 38 keywords pertaining to solo eating. Of 411 subjects, 207 (50.4%) were males and 204 (49.6%) were females. The biggest problem that respondents perceived in their dietary life was irregular eating. Women prepared meals more often than men (p<0.001) and ate more instant and frozen food than men (p<0.05). Both males and females missed breakfast most, and the amount of the population eating breakfast alone ranked second highest. Women had lunch alone more often than men, while men ate dinner alone more often than women (p<0.01). All respondents spent 5~15 min when eating alone. Women avoided excessive smoking and drinking more than men (p<0.001). Men related key words regarding solo eating with negative emotions such as 'lonely', 'boring', and 'feel sorry when I see someone eating alone in a restaurant' more than women. Conversely, women related more positive key words with eating alone such as 'free', 'joy', and 'my own time'. Dietary lives of Koreans have rapidly changed along with social changes. Our research findings will contribute to increased comprehensive menu development and HMR development in the foodservice industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2023

In this study, we aimed to explore whether eating alone is associated with mental health conditions in Korean adolescents. The data of 2,012 Korean adolescents aged 12-18 years were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2019. Participants were classified into three groups based on the frequency of eating alone: none (all meals with others); 1 meal/day alone; and ≥2 meals/day alone. Mental health conditions were assessed based on stress recognition, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Multivariable logistic regressions were employed to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of poor mental health conditions according to the frequency of eating alone. Adolescents who ate ≥2 meals/day alone had higher odds of stress recognition (AOR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.94-3.63), depressive symptoms (AOR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.47-4.42), and suicidal ideation (AOR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.05-6.08) than those who ate all their meals with others. In addition, having breakfast or dinner alone increased the odds of stress recognition. Considering the continuous increase in the social phenomenon of eating alone, nutritional educations are needed to develop adolescents' ability to choose more nutritionally balanced and healthy meals when eating alone.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.206-226
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of eating with family or alone on the self-rated mental or physical health and then work out strategies of making people recognize the importance of eating with family and its practice. Study subjects were 610 primary school 5th- and 6th-grade students in Daejeon Area. A questionnaire survey was carried out. 57.9% of students had working mothers. The frequency of meal in a day was $2.90{\pm}0.42$ and this frequency was lower in students who had working mothers (p < 0.05). The frequency of skipping breakfast (times/week) was $1.02{\pm}1.77$. The frequencies of eating alone (times/week) were $1.04{\pm}1.65$ for breakfast and $0.97{\pm}1.52$ for dinner. Also, the frequency of eating alone for dinner was higher in students who had working mothers (p < 0.001). When the frequency of eating alone for breakfast or dinner was higher, the frequencies of skipping breakfast and dinner were also higher (for all, p <0.01). When the frequency of eating alone for breakfast or dinner was higher, the self-rated positive mental health were lower (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively) and the self-rated negative mental health (for dinner, p < 0.05) and the self-rated negative physical health was higher (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively), thus presenting negative health. The frequencies of eating with family (times/week) were $3.37{\pm}2.50$ for breakfast and $4.14{\pm}2.19$ for dinner. Also, the frequency of eating with family for dinner was lower in students who had working mothers (p < 0.01). When the frequency of eating with family for breakfast was higher, the frequency of skipping breakfast was lower (p < 0.01). When the frequency of eating with family for dinner was higher, the frequency of skipping dinner was lower (p <0.01). In addition, when the frequency of eating with family for breakfast or dinner was higher, the self-rated positive mental health were higher (for both, p <0.01) and the self-rated negative mental health was lower (for breakfast, p < 0.01) and self-rated negative physical health were lower (for both, p <0.01), thus presenting positive health. Therefore, in order to maintain positive health, it is necessary to recognize the importance of eating with family at home and educate people to carry out a systematic and continuous dietary life, thus increasing eating with family and reducing eating alone and skipping a meal.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.441-454
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the association between the frequency and pattern of eating alone and the mental health status according to region in Korean adults. Methods: The data of 10,040 Korean adults aged ≥ 19 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2017 and 2019 were used. Participants were divided into 4 groups based on their frequency of eating alone: none (all meals together), 1, 2, and 3 meals/day alone. The regions were divided into urban and rural areas. Mental health status was assessed by stress recognition, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) on the association of the frequency and pattern of eating alone with poor mental health after controlling for covariates. Results: Among Korean adults, 74.1% ate more than one meal a day alone. Individuals having 3 meals a day alone tended to be less educated, single, single person households, or living in urban areas (all P < 0.05). In rural areas, those having 3 meals/day alone had higher odds of stress recognition (AOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.02-2.35) than those having all meals together. In urban areas, individuals eating alone 3 times/day had higher odds of stress recognition (AOR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.31-1.96), depressive symptoms (AOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.23-2.12), and suicidal ideation (AOR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.42-3.22) compared to those having all meals together. Urban residents having dinner alone had higher odds of depressive symptoms (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05-1.58) and suicidal ideation (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.19-2.33) than those having dinner with others. Conclusions: Our findings showed that the frequency and patterns of eating alone were differentially associated with increased odds of poor mental health according to region of residence. Nutrition education is needed for those frequently eating alone, particularly those living in urban areas, to highlight the advantages of eating together and to ensure that they have balanced and healthy meals even if they eat alone.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.142-155
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to construct and test a structural equation model for the risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. The structural equation model hypothesizes that eating alone and feeling depressed is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome. The data of this study were obtained from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which was cross-sectional data from the representative national survey. A total of 4,013 subjects replied to the survey item of lifestyle and completed the physical examinations among adults aged 19 years or older in South Korea was in 2015. The structural model in this study was composed of four latent variables: eating alone, depression, negative health behavior, and metabolic syndrome. Two variables, the rate of eating alone and depression, were exogenous variables. Negative health behavior was both a mediating variable and endogenous variable, and metabolic syndrome was the final endogenous variable. The data were analyzed using the Maximum Likelihood method and bootstrapping. The structural model was appropriate for the data based on the model fit indices. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: Eating alone is a direct risk factor of metabolic syndrome in Korean women. Depression can mediate metabolic syndrome through negative health behaviors. Negative health behavior had a direct impact on metabolic syndrome in both men and women. This study may be a guideline for interventions and strategies to reduce the incidence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.