2004 Volume 55 Issue 10 Pages 785-797
The purpose of this study is to clarify how mothers with small children enjoy and evaluate 'eating together' with their friends at home. For this study, a questionnaire was used to survey 738 mothers in their thirties having children less than 12 years old. The major findings of the survey are as follows : 1) Eighty percent of the respondents sat together with their friends for tea or meal because they wanted to talk with their contemporaries, 2) 'Eating together' is understood to have contributed to furthering ties with friends, developing good human relations, facilitating communication among children, and relieving stress, 3) Cooking for 'eating together' is more enjoyable than daily cooking for the family, and 4) They felt less burden in washing dishes and doing other chores after 'eating together.' Two different types of 'eating together' were found, i.e., one for the working mothers and the other for the mothers who are not employed. Two major effects of 'eating together' are : 1) Good relations built with friends and 2) Increased interest in cooking.
