Table 1
Overview of the relationship between food-related aspects and the dimensions associated with cohesion.
| NO. | Precondition of cohesion | Measure to ensure this precondition in the armed forces | Contribution of food and of having meals together |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feeling of being part of the same group | Military culture | Meals are considered a convivial experience: manifestation of togetherness, sense of community |
| 2 | Pursuit of a common goal | Good leadership | Food makes it easier to engage with superiors |
| Factor influencing cohesion | Measure to enable this factor in the armed forces | Contribution of food and of having meals together | |
| 3 | Professional skills | Mutual recognition of professional skills | Food as a way to get acquainted with other service members: learning others’ backgrounds, skills and limits during meals |
| 4 | Mutual trust | Knowing peers/showing mutual support | Food as a way to get acquainted with other service members: learning others’ backgrounds, skills and limits during meals Food items are treated as a common good: sharing food as a form of mutual caring |
| 5 | Sharing the same view of a situation | Shared experiences/going through stressful and challenging situations together | Meals are considered a convivial experience: recalling and discussing activities during meals;. experiencing harsh conditions during meals together |
| 6 | Sharing values and norms | Showing conformity to these norms in daily activities | Food is used to foster shared values and norms |
| 7 | Physical closeness | Military isolation | Sitting in the same mess hall several times a day |
| 8 | Feeling of equality | Experience fair treatment | Food can lead to perceived inequality among service members, but usually everyone has the chance to get the same food |
[i] Note. The factors and the corresponding measures are explained in the section “Previous Research” above. The column on the right provides an explanation of the results with regards to the theoretical frame.