Attitudes of elderly people towards new and unfamiliar food
Poland has been experiencing a process of demographic changes with an increasing number of ageing people constituting its population. During the late stages of life, one can observe many health conditions occurring among this age group, which are also related to diets. The economic situation is not always the reason; it is often a reluctance to change dietary habits, fear of the unfamiliar, or preference for the traditional dietary model. Neophobic behaviours contribute to persisting in taking unadventurous food choices, limiting the variety and resulting in dietary monotony and nutritional deficiencies.The aim of the study was to assess the attitudes of older adults towards novel, unfamiliar food and to identify sources of knowledge about healthy diets. The study was conducted among 596 members of the University of the Third Age from Pomorskieand Zachodniopomorskie provinces with a varied social and demographic profile. In order to determine the degree of neophobia, a modified Food NeophobiaScale was employed. Respondents were also asked to identify the most significant sources of knowledge about food.Over half of the group declared an indifferent attitude towards novel, unfamiliar food, and a third of all the respondents was negatively biased. The most substantial factors affecting the degree of neophobia have been: financial situation, and working life of the older adults. Acquaintances, friends and popular science magazines have been indicated as sources of knowledge about healthy diets.It is likely that reluctance to consume new and unfamiliar food by older adults is influenced by the dietary habits formed over their lifetime. Fears connected with new food result from lack of elementary knowledge of the subject. The elderly consumers are a segment of the market that should be targeted at with promotional campaigns of new products, particularly those having healthful properties.
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