Satisfaction with food-related life and life satisfaction: a triadic analysis in dual-earner families

Abstract

This study explored the spillover and crossover associations between satisfaction with food-related life and life satisfaction in mothers, fathers and adolescent children in dual-earned families. This is a cross-sectional design study with mothers, fathers and children surveyed in Temuco, Chile. The participants were 303 dual-earner parents and their adolescent children (mean age 13.3 years, 51.5% female). Actor-partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and structural equation modeling were used to explore spillover (actor effect) and crossover (partner effect) associations among family members. As a result, fathers’ satisfaction with food-related life was positively associated with their own life satisfaction (p ≤ 0.01), as well as with their partner’s (mother’s) satisfaction with life (p ≤ 0.05), but not with their adolescent child’s life satisfaction (p > 0.1). Mothers and children presented positive spillovers between their own levels of satisfaction with food-related life and life satisfaction (p ≤ 0.01). No crossover effects were found between mothers and children (p > 0.1). This study results underscore the positive association between satisfaction with food-related life and life satisfaction among members of dual-earner families with adolescent children. Special efforts should be made by dual-earner parents to improve the variables related to their satisfaction with food-related life as well as their children’s satisfaction.

Domain Satisfaction and Overall Life Satisfaction: Testing the Spillover-Crossover Model in Chilean Dual-Earner Couples

“…Nevertheless, other studies show that men’s satisfaction can also be influenced by their female partners [ 25 , 34 ]. In addition, when the relationship between one related variable among couples and their satisfaction with life, as well as satisfaction with different domains of life, are measured at the same time, symmetric crossover effects have been reported for some outcomes and asymmetric crossover effects for others [ 34 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…Liu and Cheung [ 25 ] found that work-to-family enrichment in women was positively associated with their husbands’ life satisfaction but not vice versa. Schnettler et al [ 38 ] found that in men, work-life balance was positively associated with their own satisfaction with life as well as with their female partner’s life satisfaction; in women, however, their work-life balance was positively associated with their own satisfaction with life, but not with that of their male partner.…”

“…The food domain has been relatively less studied in the literature of domain satisfaction, despite the fundamental role that food-related issues play in people’s short-term and long-term well-being [ 57 ]. An important part of an average person’s life is dedicated to investing time, energy and financial resources on food and food consumption [ 38 , 57 , 58 ]. In addition, food not only provides nourishment and sustenance but also carries cultural and symbolic meaning [ 59 ]; thus, for individuals and groups, the social value of food entails more than nutrition [ 38 , 60 , 61 ].…”

“…An important part of an average person’s life is dedicated to investing time, energy and financial resources on food and food consumption [ 38 , 57 , 58 ]. In addition, food not only provides nourishment and sustenance but also carries cultural and symbolic meaning [ 59 ]; thus, for individuals and groups, the social value of food entails more than nutrition [ 38 , 60 , 61 ]. A person’s overall cognitive assessment of their food and eating habits (including meal planning, shopping and meal preparation) is defined as satisfaction with food-related life [ 58 ].…”

“…For crossover effects in the food domain, there is only one published study that assessed spillover and crossover effects between family members regarding satisfaction with food-related life and life satisfaction [ 38 ]. However, the evidence provided by these authors shows that at least unidirectional crossover effects between satisfaction with food-related life and life satisfaction among members of dual-earner couples is to be expected.…”