Abstract

COSTA, Andrea; HUMBOLDTB, Sofia von  and  LEAL, Isabel. Beliefs about food and cancer prevention in the older adults. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.2, pp.467-472.  Epub Sep 30, 2022. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/22psd230215.

Beliefs about food can prevent or treat a disease. The aim of this study is to assess whether beliefs about food influence the prevention of cancer among older adults. In this exploratory quantitative study, 25 older people aged between 65 and 89 years were included (M=71,72; DP=6,073). The sample comprised patients with breast, throat, lung, stomach, colon, intestine, prostate and lymphoma câncer. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Beliefs in Disease and Food Scale were used. Beliefs regarding lifestyle, food ideology and diet, and chronic diseases were assessed. An analysis of differences was carried out using the t-student test between males and females and between ages (65-72; 73-89). 80% of participants believed that dietary beliefs can influence cancer prevention, however, there are no significant differences for both gender and age. Beliefs about food and the relationship with disease prevention are present, indicating that people establish a relationship between these and cancer prevention. This study underlines the importance of a balanced and healthy diet and the exploration of this belief associated with cancer prevention and treatment.

Keywords : Aging; Beliefs; Cancer; Food; Older people.

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