Abstract
BackgroundFrequent family meals are associated with healthy dietary behaviors and other desirable outcomes in children and adolescents. Therefore, increased knowledge about factors that may increase the occurrence of family meals is warranted. The present study has its focus on the home food environment, and aims to explore potential associations between parent-reported feeding behaviors and child-reported family meal frequencies.MethodsCross-sectional surveys were performed among 10-12-year-olds and their parents recruited from eighteen schools in southwest Norway. The child questionnaire included measures of family meal frequencies (breakfast, dinner and supper). The parent questionnaire included measures of parental feeding behaviors adapted from the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire. A series of multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between parental feeding behaviors and the frequency of family meals.ResultsThe frequency of family breakfasts was associated with three parental feeding variables; home environment (β=.11, p<.05), pressure to eat (β=.11, p<.01), and monitoring (β=.10, p<.05). The frequency of family dinners and suppers was associated with one parental feeding variable; home environment (β=.11, p<.01 and β=.12, p<.01 for dinners and suppers respectively).ConclusionsThe home environment variable was the most important correlate of child-reported family meal frequencies in this study. Although further research is needed, our findings support the evident influence of parents and the home food environment on child and adolescent eating behavior, which in the present study was measured as the frequency of shared family meals.
Highlights
Frequent family meals are associated with healthy dietary behaviors and other desirable outcomes in children and adolescents
According to Baumrind [19] there are four types of parenting style based on whether the parents are high or low on demandingness and responsiveness: authoritarian parents are high in demandingness and directiveness, but low in responsiveness; permissive parents are more responsive they are demanding; disengaged parents are low in both responsiveness and demandingness; authoritative parents are both demanding and responsive
We found that three parental feeding variables; home environment, pressure to eat and monitoring were positively associated with child-reported family breakfast frequency
Summary
Frequent family meals are associated with healthy dietary behaviors and other desirable outcomes in children and adolescents. The present study has its focus on the home food environment, and aims to explore potential associations between parent-reported feeding behaviors and child-reported family meal frequencies. Research conducted during the last decade has suggested that regular family meals are important for promoting healthy dietary behavior in school-aged children and adolescents [3,4,5,6]. Recent research suggests that factors within the home environment, such as parenting style [16] and family cohesion [17] are associated with family meal patterns. Regarding parenting style and family meals, both cross-sectional and longitudinal data have indicated a positive association between an authoritative parenting style (which is characterized by empathy and respect for the child on the one hand, and clear boundaries and expectations on the other hand) and the frequency of family meals [16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
