How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents' Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample

Abstract

Background/objectives: Adolescence is an important period of psychophysical development. In this phase of life people acquire greater self-awareness and adopt behaviors that will later shape their lifestyle in adulthood. This study aimed to assess whether family structure can influence adolescents' eating habits.

Methods: Data were acquired from a survey titled 'Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children' (HBSC) given to a representative sample of Tuscan adolescents aged 11, 13, 15 and 17 years of age. Participants (3210) filled out a validated questionnaire answering questions about their eating habits and family structure. After adjusting for covariates, some interesting trends were highlighted in the survey results.

Results: Adolescents living in single-mother families reported a lower intake of fruits (OR 0.68, 95% CI = 0.55-0.83) and vegetables (OR 0.66, 95% CI = 0.53-0.81) and a higher intake of sugar-added soft drinks (OR 1.33, 95% CI = 1.08-1.64). Living in a mother and stepfather family was associated with a higher intake of sugar-added soft drinks (OR 1.53, 95% CI = 1.02-2.28), whereas living in a father and stepmother family was associated only with a lower intake of fruits (OR 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26-0.87). Participants living with other family types reported a lower intake of vegetables (OR 0.68, 95% CI = 0.47-0.98).

Conclusions: The results of this study show a correlation between family structure and adolescents' eating habits.

Keywords: Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children; adolescents; eating habits; family structure; parental influence; survey.