Connecting with Others: The Meaning of Social Eating as an Everyday Occupation for Young People

Abstract

This article focuses on the meaning of social eating as an everyday occupation for young people aged 12-16 years who live in a small town in the south of England. Existing literature has tended to emphasise the nutritional needs of this age group, with less known about the social nature of eating during adolescence. A qualitative methodology, informed by the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis, ensured that this study was grounded in the lived experiences of the two male and four female participants. Four interacting themes emerged: family connectedness, social connectedness and friendship, routine, and enjoyment. These findings suggest that eating in social groups is a meaningful everyday occupation for these young people.

Keywords:

• Adolescents
• Eating
• Everyday occupations
• Meaning
• Social occupations
• Interpretative phenomenological analysis

Acknowledgements

This research was completed as part of an MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy at the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom. Dr Anne Roberts was the thesis supervisor.