A Cross-Sectional Study on the Relationship between the Family Nutrition Climate and Children’s Nutrition Behavior

Abstract

Background: Parents influence their children’s nutrition behavior. The relationship between parental influences and children’s nutrition behavior is often studied with a focus on the dyadic interaction between the parent and the child. However, parents and children are part of a broader system: the family. We investigated the relationship between the family nutrition climate (FNC), a family-level concept, and children’s nutrition behavior. Methods: Parents of primary school-aged children (N = 229) filled in the validated family nutrition climate (FNC) scale. This scale measures the families’ view on the consumption of healthy nutrition, consisting of four different concepts: value, communication, cohesion, and consensus. Parents also reported their children’s nutrition behavior (i.e., fruit, vegetable, water, candy, savory snack, and soda consumption). Multivariate linear regression analyses, correcting for potential confounders, were used to assess the relationship between the FNC scale (FNC-Total; model 1) and the different FNC subscales (model 2) and the child’s nutrition behavior. Results: FNC-Total was positively related to fruit and vegetable intake and negatively related to soda consumption. FNC-value was a significant predictor of vegetable (positive) and candy intake (negative), and FNC-communication was a significant predictor of soda consumption (negative). FNC-communication, FNC-cohesion, and FNC-consensus were significant predictors (positive, positive, and negative, respectively) of water consumption. Conclusions: The FNC is related to children’s nutrition behavior and especially to the consumption of healthy nutrition. These results imply the importance of taking the family-level influence into account when studying the influence of parents on children’s nutrition behavior. Trial registration: Dutch Trial Register NTR6716 (registration date 27 June 2017, retrospectively registered), METC163027, NL58554.068.16, Fonds NutsOhra project number 101.253.

Caregivers’ Role in the Effectiveness of Two Dutch School-Based Nutrition Education Programmes for Children Aged 7–12 Years Old

“…Regarding the question of ‘talking about healthy eating in the home environment’, baseline results of the current study found a positive association with FV intake and nutrition knowledge in children. This is in line with previous research indicating that talking about healthy eating at home is associated with higher FV consumption in children [ 59 , 60 ] and a study that found increased nutrition knowledge about the ‘5-a-day of fruits and veggies intake’ as a result of nutrition education using caregivers involvement [ 61 ]. This may be explained by the fact that it is likely that caregivers found healthy eating more important if they talk about it with their children, resulting in healthier behaviour (e.g., by providing more FV (FV intake), or explaining nutrition/health-related issues (nutrition knowledge)), compared to caregivers who do not talk about it with their children.…”

The Validity and Reliability of the Persian Version of the Family Health Climate Scale (FHC-Scale) in Female Students and Their Mothers in Iran 2019

“…Approaching family as a system, the fundamental questions are how the family environment affects an individual's health behaviors and how this effect can be described. It has been stated that a particular aspect of family members' interactions shapes individuals' physical activity and eating behaviors, which is called the “climate.” In description of the environmental dimensions of the family that lead to the creation of individual health behaviors, the term climate has been judged as a special feature [ 18 , 19 ]. The term “family health climate” was introduced by Niermann et al [ 20 ].…”

“…Parents and children are parts of the family and influence each other's behaviors, and this indicates reciprocal influence. These family interactions and perspectives are a part of the family health climate [ 18 , 19 ]. Because a specific understanding of the family climate predicts particular behaviors [ 21 ], and behaviors such as eating and physical activity are completely different in spite of being related to health [ 22 ]; this tool includes climate perceptions that refer to these behaviors [ 20 ].…”

Environmental Influences on Dietary Intake of Children and Adolescents

“…In addition to parental influences, increasing attention is being paid to the influence of the broader family system on children's dietary intake [13]. In the current special issue, Verjans-Janssen and colleagues [14] examined the associations between the Family Nutrition Climate-i.e., the family's shared perceptions and cognitions regarding healthy nutrition [15]-and dietary intake of primary school children. Several subscales, as well as the total Family Nutrition Scale, were positively associated with healthy intake behaviors, including increased fruit, vegetable, and water intake, and decreased soft drink and sweets intake [14].…”