Food Habits and Future Time: An Exploratory Study of Age-Appropriate Food Habits among the Elderly

Abstract

This exploratory research effort examines future time perspective and its association with a behavioral change, i.e., food habits, among a sample of elderly persons. Demographic and social conditions under which a positive or negative future time may be associated with changes in food habits are explored. The findings suggest that the elderly do make changes in their food habits, and there is an association of positive or negative food habit changes with a positive or negative future time perspective. The future time perspective and the food habit changes are couched in certain types of demographic and social conditions such as with whom one lives, recent widowhood, health status, and sex.