Family environment and
children’s dietary behaviours
Colette Kelly, Michal Molcho & Saoirse Nic Gabhainn
Health Promotion Research Centre
NUI Galway
Family environment

Family environment can influence dietary behaviours of
young people




Parental intake, home food availability/accessibility
Parental modelling, family rules
Parental control, family structure and communication
Family - is a key setting for promoting healthy
behaviours and for social support
Families in Ireland



17.8% of children live with lone parent or
guardian (CSO, 2007)
55% of mothers are in employment (OECD, 2003)
Families are smaller in size and the number of
large families has decreased (CSO, 2007)
Aims

To explore relationships between the family
environment and dietary behaviours of young
people

Family size

Family structure

Maternal employment
HBSC - background



A cross-national research study conducted in
collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for
Europe
HBSC was initiated in 1982 and is conducted every 4
years. Ireland has been involved since 1998
HBSC 2006 involved more than 180,000 children from
41 countries
HBSC - background



The study aims to gain new insight into, and increase
our understanding of young people's health and wellbeing, health behaviours and their social context
The findings are used to inform and influence
children’s policy and practice at national and
international levels
The target age-groups are 11, 13 and 15 year olds
attending school (n=4500)
HBSC Ireland - methodology

Nationally representative sample of schoolaged children in the ROI

Consent from schools, parents & children

In-school, self-completion questionnaire

Ethical approval from the NUI Galway REC
Methodology – HBSC Ireland



215 primary and post-primary schools took part
Children in 5th class to 5th year were invited to partake n
= 10,334 students (10-18 years)
Study was carried out in May-June and Sept.-Oct. 2006
Survey instrument
Social and developmental
Health and behaviour
context
 Perceived health, well-being
and life satisfaction
 Family structure and
 Smoking, drinking and
relationships
cannabis use
 School environment
 Physical activity and sedentary
 Peer relations and social
behaviour
behaviour
 Eating and dieting
 Socioeconomic circumstances
 Body image
 Pubertal development
 Height and weight
 Sexual behaviour
 Bullying and fighting
 Injuries
Dietary measures

How often do you usually eat or drink….?
fruit, vegetables
 soft drinks, sweets, crisps, chips
 Fish
 Response options: Never, <1/wk, 1/wk…..≥2/day


How often do you usually have breakfast?

Response options: Never, 1 day….5 days
Family meal times

How often do you..






Have breakfast with your father or mother?
Have an evening meal with your mother or father?
Eat a snack while you watch TV?
Eat a snack while you work or play on a computer or games
console?
Watch TV while having a meal?
Response options: never, less than once a week, 1-2
d/week….every day
Family environment

Does your mother have a job?



Response options: Yes, No, Don’t know, Don’t have
or see this person
For the home where you live all or most of the
time tick the people who live there……
Please say how many brothers and sisters live
there….
Results

Family size:
64% of families have ≤3 children
 36% of families have ≥4 children


Family structure:
17% of families are lone parent
 77% of children live with both parents


Maternal employment:

70% of mothers are employed
Associations between food items and family
factors
Fruit
Vegetables
Fruit
Boys
Vegetables
Girls
Mother working
1.13
1.12
1.06
0.98
Both parents
1.17
1.21
1.24*
1.30*
Large family
1.10
0.98
1.05
0.99
Adjusted for age and family affluence
Intake ≥ 2/day
Associations between food items and family factors
Cola
Diet cola
Crisps
Chips
Fish
weekly
Mother working
0.94
0.89
0.84
0.97
1.11
Both parents
0.95
0.67**
0.94
0.99
1.17
Large family
1.07
0.97
1.08
1.31*
0.93
Mother working
0.75***
0.76**
0.84
0.60***
0.99
Both parents
0.73***
0.67**
0.70
0.90
1.28**
Large family
1.06
1.06
1.30**
1.74***
0.90
Boys
Girls
Adjusted for age and family affluence
Associations between meal habits and family factors
Breakfast every
weekday
Meal while
Breakfast with
watching TV
parents
Evening meal
with parents
Boys
Mother working
0.89
1.03
0.99
0.93
Both parents
1.38**
0.73**
1.22
1.33**
Large family
0.81*
0.96
0.85
0.99
1.08
0.83*
0.88
0.99
Both parents
1.66***
0.74**
1.36**
1.31**
Large family
0.85
0.95
1.03
1.08
Girls
Mother working
Analysis controlled for age and family affluence
Discussion



Family factors play a role in the dietary habits of
schoolchildren in Ireland
Girls in particular appear to be influenced by
family environment
Family factors should be recognised in future
nutrition policy in Ireland
Acknowledgements

Schools, parents & children

Department of Health and Children

Office of the Minister for Children & Youth
Affairs
Team members

Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, PI
Dr Michal Molcho, Deputy PI
Dr Colette Kelly, Survey Manager
Amanda Fitzgerald
Natasha Clarke
Larri Walker
Siobhan O’Higgins
Aoife Gavin
Priscilla Doyle
Geraldine Nolan

Prof Candace Currie & team, International Co-ordinating Centre, Scotland

HBSC network of researchers









Further details available.…

www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc

www.hbsc.org

Email: HBSC@nuigalway.ie