Having Children in the Household Affects Adult Dietary Consumption: Results of a Cross-Sectional Community Survey

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study examined whether food group consumption varies by demographic, socioeconomic, health-related, and household factors in a mid-sized Midwestern city. Methods This study was reviewed and certified exempt by the Institutional Review Board at a large Midwestern university. University and community partners developed a Community-Campus Health Connections Survey assessing demographic characteristics, health behaviours, and health education and communication preferences, and nutrition consumption. It was administered fall of 2017. We used t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlations to assess the strength of associations between the dependent and independent variables. We then used multiple hierarchical regression analysis to identify predictors of daily dietary consumption of different food groups. Results A total of 172 adult respondents were included in the final sample. Age, healthcare access, zip code median income, and self-rated health, and age of children in the household predicted dietary consumption. Having preschool-aged children in the household predicted increased consumption of dairy, vegetables, and fruits, while having teenagers in the household predicted decreased consumption of water. Conclusions This study finds that having children in the household influences dietary consumption of adults after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables. An unanticipated finding is that this study may demonstrate the impact of food assistance programs on healthy food consumption of caregivers with preschool-aged children. Funding Sources Department-level institutional funding.