Browsing by Author "Aspholm, Laura"

Shift work and its impact on meals, food habit and everyday life has been researched marginally from Home economics point of view. This research examines how shift work, in form on night work, impacts home and workplace eating, food choices and everyday life. The amount of shift work has increased in society. An increasing number of people work in two or three rotating shifts both on weekdays and weekends. Finnish food culture, food habits and meal services guide food rhythm at work and on spare time. Shift work creates challenges to the following of food rhythms. This study interviewed shift workers whose working hours take place at night. The purpose was to survey what kind of food rhythm has formed for the interviewees at workplace and at home. Inter-viewee’s food rhythm was compared to the food recommendation made by the National Nutrition Council. In the interviews the structure of the weekday and what kind of effect night work has had on time management during everyday life was also inquired. The study was carried out in theme interviews through the use of three themes. Five persons partici-pated in the interview, all of whom were employed by the same employer. Analysis of the material was made through theming the answers. The results were compared with the food recommendations made by the National Nutrition Council that have been presented in the theory part. The result showed, that shift work has an effect on the structures of everyday life and food choices. Because of the employer the use of food services were not available. The principal meal was com-posed of packed lunch. The majority of the interviewees brought ready meals, bread or fruits for the principal meal. Against food recommendations some of the interviewees enjoyed plenty of caffein-ated drinks during their shift. On the basis of the study one can say that shift work has had an effect on the interviewee´s food pattern´s, food customs and the structure of the everyday life. The signifi-cance of the effects is individual but it was possible to find congruent factors.