Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 51–59; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602681; published online 14 February 2007

The contribution of psychosocial and home environmental factors in explaining eating behaviours in adolescents

Guarantor: I De Bourdeaudhuij.

Contributors: LH performed most of the statistical analyses and the writing of the manuscript, MC did most of the data collection, BD, LM and IDB supervised the study, all authors advised on study design, interpretation, and critically reviewed and approved the manuscript.

L Haerens1,2, M Craeynest1,3, B Deforche1, L Maes4, G Cardon1,2 and I De Bourdeaudhuij1,2

  1. 1Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
  2. 2Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health, Brussels, Belgium
  3. 3Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
  4. 4Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Correspondence: Dr L Haerens, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Gent, Belgium. E-mail: Leen.Haerens@UGent.be

Received 29 June 2006; Revised 5 January 2007; Accepted 9 January 2007; Published online 14 February 2007.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

The present study aimed at investigating the influence of food availability, rules and television viewing habits on eating behaviours in adolescents.

Design:

 

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

 

Four randomly selected middle schools.

Subjects:

 

A sample of 534 seventh and eighth graders.

Interventions:

 

Validated questionnaires were used to measure the family environment and fat, soft drink and fruit consumption. Hierarchical regression analyses on fat, soft drink and fruit consumption, with demographic and psychosocial variables entered as the first and environmental factors as the second block were conducted in boys and girls.

Results:

 

Boys with more unhealthy products available at home consumed more fat (Pless than or equal to0.001, 95% CI: 8.2–29.4) and more soft drinks (Pless than or equal to0.01, 95% CI: 0.2–1.4). Boys who reported better television viewing habits ate more fruit (Pless than or equal to0.001, 95% CI: -1.7 to -0.5). Girls who reported better television viewing habits consumed less fat (Pless than or equal to0.01, 95% CI: 1.4–9.0) and more fruit (Pless than or equal to0.05, 95% CI: -1.0 to -0.1). Girls who reported higher availability of healthy products at home (Pless than or equal to0.05, 95% CI: 0.3–3.1) and more food rules (Pless than or equal to0.001, 95% CI: -1.8 to -0.5), consumed more fruit. Environmental factors were poor predictors of soft drink consumption among girls.

Conclusion:

 

Availability of (un)healthy food products, family food rules and TV viewing habits were related to one or more eating behaviours in boys or girls. Although home environmental factors can play an important role in influencing adolescents' eating behaviours, these factors were generally less predictive than demographic and psychosocial variables.

Sponsorship:

 

Ghent University and Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health funded by the Flemish Government.

Keywords:

environment, family, dietary fats, fruit, drinking behaviour, adolescent

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