IMPACT OF FAMILY-BASED THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING ON DIETARY HABITS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/ijetmr.v12.i5.2025.1688Keywords:
Family Counseling, Stress Management, Dietary Behavior, Home Science, Mindful Eating, Emotional Well-Being, Nutrition Education, Family HealthAbstract
Family health and emotional harmony are deeply influenced by dietary behavior, communication patterns, and shared coping strategies. Modern lifestyles, dominated by stress, time constraints, and processed food consumption, have disrupted traditional family meal structures and nutrition practices. This study explores the impact of family-based therapeutic counseling on improving dietary habits and managing stress through behavioral and nutritional interventions.
A hypothetical 10-week counseling intervention model was designed involving 60 families divided into two groups: control (no counseling) and intervention (family counseling sessions). The counseling included modules on stress awareness, emotional communication, meal planning, mindful eating, and nutrition education. Data were analyzed for changes in healthy meal frequency, stress scores, and family interaction quality.
The results revealed that families receiving therapeutic counseling showed a 35% increase in healthy meal frequency, a 27% reduction in perceived stress, and a 30% improvement in family communication index compared to baseline. These outcomes demonstrate that integrating psychological counseling with nutritional education enhances both mental resilience and dietary discipline.
From a Home Science perspective, family-based counseling promotes holistic well-being by addressing emotional, nutritional, and behavioral dimensions simultaneously. This integrative approach can serve as a sustainable model for family wellness programs, reducing stress-related disorders and improving overall lifestyle quality.
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