Evaluation of the relationship between food literacy, mindful eating and nutritional status in mothers and daughters

Differences in food literacy and mindful eating levels, which occur with the differences in social environments, cultural and educational levels, can affect their nutritional status in mothers and daughters. This study was planned and conducted to evaluate the relationship between food literacy, eating awareness and nutritional status in mothers and daughters. Another purpose of this study is to establish the validity and reliability of the Self Perceived Food Literacy (SPFL) Scale. The study was carried out on 256 volunteer mother-daughter, consisting of 128 female students and 128 female student mothers studying at Gümüşhane University Faculty of Health Sciences between February and October 2021. Demographic information questionnaire, Self Perceived Food Literacy Scale adapted into Turkish (SPFL), Mindful Eating Questionnare-30 (MEQ-30), food consumption frequency questionnaire, anthropometric measurements form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ) and physical activity determination form were applied to the volunteers online. The anthropometric measurements of the participants were taken based on their statement. Also the students were trained by the researcher on how to fill in the questionnaires and they were asked to apply their mothers' questionnaires to their mothers. The mean age of the mothers is 47.72±5.56 years, and the mean age of the girls is 21.82±1.34 years (p<0.05). It was found that the mothers' food literacy scores were higher than the girls (respectively; 3.65±0.40, 3.50±0.42) (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the mothers' and daughters' mindful eating scores (respectively; 3.47±0.44, 3.50±0.40) (p>0.05). According to the IPAQ scale, mothers and daughters were in the minimum active group with respectively 49.2% and 54.7% (p>0.05).It was determined that there was a negative relationship between food literacy scores of mothers and daughters and body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) (p>0.05). It was determined that there was a negative significant relationship between mindful eating scores of mothers and daughters and body weight and BMI (p<0.05). While it was determined that there was a negative significant relationship between mothers' food literacy score and energy (kcal), carbohydrate (g), protein (g), Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) (g) intakes, it was determined that there was a negative significant relationship between girls' food literacy score and energy (kcal), carbohydrate (g), fat (g), Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) (g), omega 6 (g) intakes and omega 6/omega 3 ratio and a positive significant relationship between girls' food literacy score and protein (%), omega 3 (g) intakes (p<0.05). While it was determined that there was a negative significant relationship between mothers' mindful eating score and energy (kcal), protein (g), SFA (g), Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) (g) and cholesterol (mg) intakes, it was determined that there was a negative significant relationship between girls' mindful eating score and energy (kcal), carbohydrate (g), protein (g), fat (g), SFA (g), PUFA (g) and omega 6 fatty acids (g) intakes and a positive significant relationship between girls' mindful eating score and protein (%) intakes (p<0.05). As a result, it is thought that the food literacy scores of the mothers are higher than the girls because they have more traditional food preparation skills and this difference is not positively reflected in BMI values due to both low physical activity level and culturally wrong eating habits. More comprehensive studies should be done to understand better the relationship between food literacy, mindful eating and nutritional status in mothers and daughters.