일반적으로 혼자서 보내는 시간이 많을수록 외로움 수준이 높은 경향이 나타난다. 그러나 홀로 있을 때, 즉 사회적 으로 고립되었을 때 외로움을 경험하는지 여부는 사람마다 다르다. 본 연구에서는 홀로 많은 시간을 보내는 사람 중, 누가 외로움을 경험하는지를 예측하는 요인으로 권력감(sense of power)의 역할을 알아보았다. 연구 1은 대규모 설문 조사 연구 자료를 이용하여 사회적 시간이 적은 사람들의 외로움을 예측하는 요인을 알아보았다. 판별분석 결과, 권력 감이 사회적 활동 시간이 적은 사람들을 높은 외로움과 낮은 외로움 집단으로 판별하는 요인임을 검증하였다. 연구 2는 실험을 통해 권력감의 수준을 조작하여 높은 권력감과 낮은 권력감 집단으로 나누었다. 이후 홀로 있음을 점화한 뒤, 외로움과 소속감 상실의 여부가 권력감 조건에 따라 달라지는지 분석하였다. 그 결과 권력감이 높으면 사회적 외 로움을 적게 경험하고 소속감 상실이 완충되는 인과관계를 확인하였다. 현대 사회는 일인 가정이 많아지고 코로나로 인해 사회적 만남이 제한됨으로써 외로움에 취약한 환경에 처한 개인이 전례 없이 많다. 본 연구는 이러한 현 상황에 서 외로움 완화의 요인으로써 상황의 변화보다는 개인의 내적 심리적 측면에 주목하였다는 점에서 의의를 지닌다.

This study was conducted to compare solo eating perceptions and dietary behaviors in the Seoul and Gyonggi-do regions according to gender. The study focused on the dietary perceptions, solo eating, eating together, dietary habits, food intake patterns and 38 keywords pertaining to solo eating. Of 411 subjects, 207 (50.4%) were males and 204 (49.6%) were females. The biggest problem that respondents perceived in their dietary life was irregular eating. Women prepared meals more often than men (p<0.001) and ate more instant and frozen food than men (p<0.05). Both males and females missed breakfast most, and the amount of the population eating breakfast alone ranked second highest. Women had lunch alone more often than men, while men ate dinner alone more often than women (p<0.01). All respondents spent 5~15 min when eating alone. Women avoided excessive smoking and drinking more than men (p<0.001). Men related key words regarding solo eating with negative emotions such as ‘lonely’, ‘boring’, and ‘feel sorry when I see someone eating alone in a restaurant’ more than women. Conversely, women related more positive key words with eating alone such as ‘free’, ‘joy’, and ‘my own time’. Dietary lives of Koreans have rapidly changed along with social changes. Our research findings will contribute to increased comprehensive menu development and HMR development in the foodservice industry.

This study was conducted to assess the recognition and consumption of meal alone and processed food according to major of college students in Seoul Metropolitan area and Chungcheong province, Republic of Korea. To accomplish this, a survey was conducted to investigate 353 college students (171 food & nutrition majors and 182 non-majors) regarding their general characteristics, dietary behaviors, meal alone issues, and the purchase and consumption of processed food. Most major and non-major students skipped breakfast. The main reason for skipping was not having time. Majors and non-majors put great importance on their lunch and evening meal, respectively. Nutrition information routes for majors were ‘college class’ (62.5%) and ‘TV radio’ (17.5%). However, the routes for non-majors to obtain nutrition information were ‘internet smart phones’ (41.1%) and ‘TV radio’ (28.3%). These results suggest the need to provide correct information concerning nutrition to college students. Most major and non-major students tend to have 0 to 2 times of meal alone per week. The main reason for meal alone was schedule unsuitable for eating with family or friends. The most critical factors for majors and non-majors when they chose menu to have meal alone were personal taste and money, respectively. The primary consideration for choosing processed food was price and the main purchase route was convenience store. The main reason for consuming processed food was easy-to-cook. Of processed foods, the most favored ones were noodles and fish products. Meal alone frequency was positively correlated with age (p<0.05), grade (p<0.05) and monthly allowance (p<0.05). Preference and consumption frequency of processed food were negatively correlated with concern about nutrition (p<0.05) and meal frequency (p<0.05), respectively. Based on these results, greater efforts should be made to provide meaningful information regarding programs for nutrition education to improve their dietary habits. Research and development of processed food specifically for college students eating alone should be increased.