Differences in beliefs and home environments regarding energy balance behaviors according to parental education and ethnicity among schoolchildren in Europe: the ENERGY cross sectional study.

Johannes Brug,Mai Jm Chinapaw,Yannis Manios,Alain Dössegger,Saskia J Te Velde,Nanna Lien,Léonie Uijtdewilligen,Nataša Jan,Amika S Singh,Juan M Fernández-Alvira,Elling Bere,Eva Kovacs,Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij,Maartje M Van Stralen,Lea Maes

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-610

Abstract

BackgroundTo explore differences in personal and home environmental factors that are regarded as determinants of energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) according to parental education and ethnic background among 10–12 year old schoolchildren across Europe.MethodsA school-based survey among 10–12 year olds was conducted in eight countries across Europe. A range of personal and home environment variables relevant for soft drink consumption, daily breakfast, sport participation and TV time was assessed by means of child report. Personal factors included attitude, health beliefs, and preference/liking. Home environment factors included parental subjective norm, modeling, support, practices and home availability. Children were classified based on parental education (i.e., low vs. high) and ethnic background (i.e., native vs. non-native). Data from 6018 children originating from 83 schools were included in the analyses.ResultsMultilevel logistic regression analyses showed that the majority of the factors tested –and especially home environment variables- were more favorable among children from higher educated parents and from native ethnicity. None of the personal and home environment factors was found to be more favorable among children from lower educated parents or non-native ethnicity.ConclusionsThe present study indicates that schoolchildren from lower educated and non-native parents across Europe have EBRB-related beliefs and are exposed to home environments that are less favorable for engagement in healthy EBRBs.

Highlights

To explore differences in personal and home environmental factors that are regarded as determinants of energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) according to parental education and ethnic background among 10–12 year old schoolchildren across Europe
The current study explores differences in personal and home environment factors that are regarded as potential determinants of EBRBs in schoolchildren according to parental education and ethnicity across Europe
Participant characteristics Of the 7915 children (52% girls; mean age = 11.7 ± 0.8 years) who completed the ENERGY questionnaire, 99 did not provide any data on correlates that were included in the present study

Summary

Introduction

To explore differences in personal and home environmental factors that are regarded as determinants of energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) according to parental education and ethnic background among 10–12 year old schoolchildren across Europe. Recent research shows that prevalence of overweight and obesity, as well as prevalence of behavioral risk factors for overweight and obesity among school-aged children are high across Europe, and differ considerably between European countries [1]. To tailor health promotion and obesity prevention interventions to the most vulnerable groups, insight in differences in potential behavioral determinants, e.g., in the children’s EBRB-specific motivations, abilities and perceived opportunities according to level of education and ethnicity, is needed [25,26]. Home environmental factors have been studied less but are of particular importance [30,31] and are a main focus of the present investigation

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Results

Conclusion