| This pilot study establishes data on how introducing shared, family-style meals in a university dining hall impacts mental health, eating competence, and academic performance among students. Variance between intervention and control groups and within subjects pre- and post-assessment was assessed, with statistical significance determined at ɑ<0.1. Decrease in loneliness was marginally significant for the intervention group (38.19 to 36.36, p=0.177). Eating competence scores improved significantly among the intervention group (33.38 to 36.19, p= 0.074). Participants’ enjoyment of family-style meals was 4.94 (1 (low) to 5 (high) Likert scale, 4-week mean). All dining services staff (n=6) perceived value in offering shared, family-style meals to students. This initial study establishes the feasibility, acceptability, and value of shared, family-style dining for students in university dining halls. Further research with increased statistical power to better approximate effects of shared, family-style dining at universities should be conducted.
Key Words: shared dining, family-style dining, depression, anxiety, eating competence, university students |