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

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.

Changes in children’s television and computer time according to parental education, parental income and ethnicity: A 6-year longitudinal EYHS study

“…Moreover, other studies have assessed ethnicity differently (e.g., ancestry, race), which makes it difficult to compare results across studies. However, our results support previous studies showing that non-white children have less favorable levels of sedentary behavior [ 19 , 36 , 37 ], which might be related to the fact that on average, European ethnic minorities live more often in lower SES neighborhoods, are lower educated and have lower income levels [ 24 ].…”

Energy Balance Related Behaviour: Personal, Home- and Friend-Related Factors among Schoolchildren in Europe Studied in the ENERGY-Project

“…As shown in previous publications about this sample [2], [34] 17.3% had a non-native background. The latter proportion was much higher in Switzerland (36%) and Greece (31%).…”

Hábitos de vida y estilos de cuidado de los progenitores relacionados con la obesidad infantil: comparación de una población española con poblaciones de países del Norte de Europa: ENERGY-Project

“…Analyses were adjusted for children's sex, age and Body Mass Index (BMI) and parents' socio-economic status based on educational level, as shown by a coded variable in the questionnaire, which measured whether at least one of the parents had attended school for more than 14 years. 25 Statistical analysis. We first calculated the means, standard deviations, proportions and standard errors for all variables included in the study.…”