A pioneering study aimed at unravelling the relationship between apartment living and dietary habits is calling for Australians who live in studio apartments to take part.
Spearheaded by PhD candidate at The University of Western Australia Joelie Mandzufas, the FLAIR study will delve into the culinary behaviours and lifestyle choices of residents of small studio apartments.
“The study holds potential to influence urban design and shape policy developments into the future and we’re very keen to get more people involved,” Ms Mandzufas said.
“We want to look at how people in small studio apartments buy, store, cook and eat food.
“By doing this, we hope to gather valuable information that could improve the design of future apartment buildings and influence policies related to food environments surrounding residential complexes.”
The supervisory team includes experienced researchers from three universities, including Dr Siobhan Hickling (UWA), Professor Gina Trapp (Edith Cowan University), Associate Professor Sarah Foster (RMIT) and Associate Professor Kevin Murray (UWA).
Eligible participants will be asked to complete a brief online survey, which typically takes about five minutes and encompasses various aspects of apartment living and household arrangements.
They’ll then be asked to take part in a photo mapping exercise which involves capturing images reflecting their personal food practices, including purchasing habits, storage solutions, meal preparation and dining rituals.
The research team will amalgamate the photos with a comprehensive map of the food environment surrounding the participants’ apartments.
Participants will then be interviewed by a member of the research team to discuss their submitted photos and provide insights into their food practices, as well as the impact of apartment living on their dietary behaviours.
“The study represents an opportunity to shed light on the often overlooked intersection of living spaces and dietary habits,” Ms Mandzufas said.
“Our goal is to understand how the constraints and opportunities presented by studio apartment living influence residents’ food choices and lifestyles, ultimately fostering healthier and more sustainable urban environments.”