Association between family meals vs. diet quality and leisure activities of young rural residents

Abstract

Introduction and Objective.Research is required to better understand the variables related to the frequency and cohesiveness of family meals. The aim of the study was to determine the association of eating meals with the family with other types of eating behaviours, sedentary behaviours, and physical activity based on a self-reported questionnaire carried out on a sample of the Polish population of rural adolescents. Materials and method. The analysis was performed among adolescents living in rural areas who participated in a survey conducted within the framework of the 'Trzymaj formę!' ('Keep Fit!') programme on eating behaviours. The survey questionnaire was completed by 2,362 teenagers aged 13-16. Results. Generally, positive evidence in terms of eating behaviours resulted in a higher likelihood of eating meals together with family. Not eating breakfast resulted in a decreased chance of eating meals together with the family. The results show that with regard to the use of computers at weekends, in the case of using them for a rather limited time, i.e. from 0.5-2 hours a day, there was a greater chance of having meals together. Conclusions. The results confirm the role of educational programmes in increasing the chances of sharing meals with the family, which confirms the validity of conducting this type of education among children and adolescents. It can be also concluded that the more positive eating behaviours of the surveyed junior high students aged 13-16, consisting in more frequent consumption of fruit, greater consumption of cereal products, and more water consumed during the day, is proof of the positive influence of parents on the nutritional behaviour of their children. This is consistent with good intra-family relationships reflected in a greater tendency to spend time together over a family meal.

Attitudes of 10–12-year-old primary school pupils towards food and nutrition: insights from Qualitative FGI Research – Junior-Edu-Żywienie (JEŻ) Project

“…The results of the current study indicated that the attitudes of adolescents towards food and nutrition were significantly influenced by the attitudes of their parents, regardless the profile they represented. The family serves as a crucial social environment in which children develop their eating behaviours, and parents act as health promoters, examples, and educators influencing dietary choices [13,14,44]. A systematic review by Yee et al [13] highlighted that many parental behaviours strongly correlate with children's behaviours related to food consumption.…”

“…During adolescence, the family environment is the usual place for the consumption of meals, in which there is no room for autonomy in dietary decisions, as parents control the purchase of food and decide on the meals prepared [45]. In addition, a greater likelihood of healthy eating behaviour occurs when pupils eat meals together with their families [44]. On the contrary, ordering takeaway foods [46] and watching television during shared meals [47] can negate the nutritional benefits of family, home-cooked meals.…”

Is nutritional education in primary schools needed in the light of teachers’ diagnosis of the state of knowledge about food and nutrition of 7–12-year-old primary school pupils? The Focus Group Interview (FGI) – Junior-Edu-Żywienie (JEŻ) Project

“…Given the exposure of children to the long-term effects of poor nutrition and the effectiveness of the school period in terms of potential modification, preventive measures should commence as early as possible. Furthermore, their scope and format should be tailored to primary school pupils' perceptions at different stages of education [7,9,10].…”

The Family Environment as a Source for Creating the Dietary Attitudes of Primary School Students—A Focus Group Interview: The Junior-Edu-Żywienie (JEŻ) Project

“…Dietary preferences change throughout life under the influence of biological, social, and environmental factors [1] and are key determinants of dietary choices and, consequently, diet quality [2]. Children's and youths' dietary behaviours are derived from the influence of the family and school environment, eating attitudes, and behaviours formed at this age influence diets in later life, including both correct and incorrect dietary attitudes [3][4][5][6][7][8]. The role of the family is particularly important, especially for younger children who have less interpersonal contact with other groups influencing their lifestyles, including eating behaviour.…”

“…Children model their dietary behaviours, lifestyles, and attitudes related to food consumption and physical activity based on observations of their parents in everyday situations. Children's behaviours are closer to the ideals of a health-promoting lifestyle the more often parents also exhibit these behaviours [4,6,8,11]. Their eating behaviour is influenced by the availability of different foods, and mealtimes, which provide a natural setting where parents manage children's behaviour, impose rules and expectations about dietary behaviour, and interact with their children [12,13].…”