Graduate Program

Family and Consumer Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2008

Thesis Director

Karla Kennedy-Hagan

Thesis Committee Member

Richard Wilkinson

Thesis Committee Member

Jeanne Snyder

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine if older adults who live alone are at greater nutritional risk than those who do not live alone and to determine if eating with -'others increases nutritional status in older adults. A questionnaire, adapted from the "Determine Your Nutritional Health Checklist" developed by the Nutrition Screening Initiative, was administered to 100 older adults 65 years of age or older. Ninety-four survey participants were included in the study.

Nutrition scores from the nutrition assessment portion were compiled for each subject by categorizing each questionnaire as low, moderate, or high~ depending on level of nutritional risk determined by the nutrition risk assessment. Each questionnaire was categorized as alone or not alone, depending on living arrangement.

The percentages of subjects who were at low, moderate, and high nutrition risk were 24%, 44%, and 32%, respectively. Most subjects (76%) were found to be at moderate or high nutrition risk. Forty-six percent of subjects reported living alone, while 53% reported living with at least one other person. A chi-square analysis was used to determine the relationship between living alone and high nutrition risk and revealed that a significant relationship exists between living alone and high nutritional risk. A correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the average number of meals eaten with others each day and level of nutrition risk. The correlation analysis revealed a weak negative correlation (-0.328) between average number of meals eaten alone and level of nutrition risk.

The results of this study indicate that there is a relationship between living alone and incidence of high nutrition risk. Additionally, the majority of subjects were found to be at moderate or high nutrition risk, indicating that all older adults, regardless of living arrangement, could benefit from programs designed to improve nutritional status among this population.

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