Do demographic characteristics influence the eating competence of elderly Taiwanese?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between demographic characteristics and eating competence (EC), "the behaviour and attitudinal conceptualization of eating", among elderly Taiwanese.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Random questionnaire survey. Overall, 564 questionnaires were analyzed, and independent t-tests, analysis of variance, chi-square tests, were used to compare the differences in the EC scores when stratified by various demographic variables.

RESULTS: The mean score of both EC and non-EC (NEC) for all respondents was 29.3. Younger respondents (65-70 years old) reported significantly higher EC scores than did older respondents (71-76 years old) (p<0.05). Similarly, respondents with high school or a higher education level reported higher scores than did respondents with elementary or a lower education level (p<0.001), and respondents with partners had higher scores than did those with no partners (p<0.001). Respondents who lived in urban areas reported higher EC scores than those living in rural areas (p<0.001). No significant gender differences were found in both EC and NEC scores.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Thirty-seven percent of elderly Taiwanese were not eating competent. Older respondents with higher education levels, those with partners, and those residing in urban areas showed significantly higher EC scores. Nutritional practitioners should therefore develop nutrition education programs tailored for those with low EC scores.