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

Abstract

The family environment plays a crucial role in creating the health behaviours of children and youth. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of parents with children aged 7–12 who represent an influential environment for creating the eating behaviours of children. A qualitative study was conducted using focus-group interviews (FGI) involving 101 parents from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Three categories of parents were identified based on their level of involvement and awareness of nutrition: ‘aware’, ‘determined’, and ‘relaxed’. Among parents of 10–12-year-old students, an additional category, ‘distanced’ parents, was identified. The study revealed that parents require support in terms of providing compelling arguments and practical recommendations related to meals and reducing or eliminating their children’s consumption of sweets, snacks, fast food, and, in the case of older students, energy drinks. Parents reported that their children had a moderate understanding of the principles of proper nutrition. The majority of respondents viewed this knowledge as primarily theoretical and expressed a need for practical guidance and activities, which they believe should be offered by schools. To achieve positive outcomes in educational activities related to food and nutrition, it is essential to involve children, parents, guardians, teachers, and other school staff in these efforts.

How Can We Increase the Nutrition-Related Knowledge in Children Aged 7–12 Years: Results of Focus Groups Interviews with Parents—Junior-Edu-Żywienie (JEŻ) Project

“…In their opinion, nutritional education is not knowledge, but rather a matter of habits and customs that can be easily shaped. More details about pupils’ parents’ profiles were described previously [ 29 ].…”

“…A total of 101 parents from schools that signed up for the JEŻ project ( n = 2218) participated in the study. More details on the study design and methods were described previously [ 28 , 29 ]. The study was carried out as part of the Junior-Edu-Żywienie (JEŻ) project.…”

“…Inclusion criteria for the focus group were being a parent or legal guardian of student aged 7–12, willingness to participate and written consent to participate in the study. More details about this study are presented in our other article [ 29 ].…”

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

“…Based on the feedback from surveyed teachers, the extent of nutritional knowledge among elementary school students exhibits significant variation. This variance could be attributed, on one hand, to varying degrees of deliberate parental involvement in this area, and, on the other hand, to the fortuitous or temporary educational interactions within the school, as emphasized by other authors [13,21,32,33]. According to the teachers, primary school pupils acquire their knowledge of food and nutrition from diverse sources, with the school, primarily through teachers, playing a significant role, along with contributions from parents and health professionals.…”

“…It is essential to recognize, however, that the dietary behaviours of children and adolescents are influenced by various environments, with notable impacts from school, family, and peers. The attitudes and eating habits formed during this developmental stage significantly shape dietary patterns later in life [12][13][14][15].…”