Research published by the American Psychological Association reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic not only prompted families to dine more at home but also enhanced the quality of their shared meals. The study, featured in *Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice*, indicates that families who increased their dinner frequency during lockdowns enjoyed more positive interactions, shared important news, and leveraged technology like videoconferencing to connect with extended family members.

Lead author Anne Fishel, PhD, a clinician and researcher in family therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasizes the need to evaluate both the frequency and quality of family meals. "The predominance of past research on family dinners has focused on frequency as the key predictor of benefits for children and adolescents. This study highlights the importance of examining both frequency and quality to understand the full picture of how shared meals can impact families," Fishel noted.

The research team surveyed 517 parents from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds in the U.S. in May 2021, exploring changes in family dinner frequency and quality during the pandemic. Participants answered questions about dinner frequency, quality, and their expectations post-pandemic, along with inquiries about their family dynamics.

Over 60% of respondents reported that they dined together more often during the pandemic compared to before. The study found a notable increase in positive interactions during these meals, including expressing gratitude, sharing laughs, and feeling a sense of connection. Specific findings revealed that:

- 56% of families talked more about their daily experiences during dinner.

- 60% engaged in conversations about their family identity.

- 67% reported increased laughter.

- 59% felt a stronger connection with one another.

This positive trend was consistent across various demographics, including income levels, education, age, gender, and race. The pandemic also encouraged families to incorporate remote dining with extended relatives and discuss current events during meals, enhancing feelings of belonging to a larger family unit. Most parents who utilized technology for remote dinners expressed intent to maintain this practice as life returns to normal.

Furthermore, families began discussing news and information from the outside world during dinner, providing a safe space for children to address anxieties and ask questions with their parents. Overall, the study suggests that the heightened frequency of family dinners during the pandemic may have lasting positive effects on family dynamics. "The pandemic changed many aspects of our lives, some for the better. Even though parents did not purposely sign up to have more shared mealtimes, increases in family dinners were largely linked with improvements in the quality of pandemic-era family dinners," Fishel stated.

The findings underline the potential benefits of technology in connecting with extended family and incorporating current events into family discussions. "The continued use of remote technology to connect with those not physically present may bring ongoing opportunities for family bonding and enhance children's sense of belonging, which is protective for their well-being," concluded Fishel.