Gender, Age, and Social Context as Determinants of Food Consumption Behaviors in a Restaurant Catering to the Upper Social Class in Caracas, Venezuela: An Observational Study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70221/rgc.v4i2.116Keywords:
Impression Management, Social Role Theory, Performative Consumption, Social Eating BehaviorAbstract
The aim of this observational study was to examine patterns in food selection and consumption based on gender, age group, and type of social gathering at a restaurant located in upper-class urban municipality of Caracas, Venezuela. Using a structured coding matrix, data were collected from N = 218 diners (M = 38.5 years, SD = 11.2; 74.9% aged between 21 and 60 years; 46.3% female). Statistical analyses included descriptive comparisons, chi-square tests, and Welch’s t-tests for mean differences, conducted using Python-based libraries (v2025.10.1), including Pandas, SciPy, NumPy, Matplotlib, Seaborn, and Prince. Findings revealed that neither the choice nor the price of the main course varied significantly by gender (χ² = 7.45, p = 0.590; t = 0.55, p = 0.585) or age (χ² = 33.89, p = 0.866; F(3,184) = 0.67, p = 0.570). In contrast, appetizer selection differed significantly by age (χ² = 92.24, p < 0.001), but not by gender (χ² = 6.57, p = 0.765). Beverage choices showed significant effects of both gender (χ² = 21.43, p = 0.018, V = 0.32) and age (χ² = 60.72, p < 0.001, V = 0.31), with women favoring wine and water, and men preferring tea and spirits. Dessert selection was associated with age (χ² = 32.61, p < 0.001), but not with gender (χ² = 2.72, p = 0.437). Adults were more likely to leave their main courses unfinished (27.3%; χ² = 14.49, p = 0.0246). Meal duration varied significantly by social context (F(4,152) = 13.60, p < 0.001), but not by gender (t = 0.84, p = 0.403). Overall, the results suggest that beverage preferences and sharing behaviors function as gendered scripts, while age and social context exert a stronger influence than gender on food selection, food waste, and meal pacing among upper-class urban diners.
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