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

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’...

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Main Authors: Bianca Maria Bocci, Dario Lipari, Andrea Pammolli, Rita Simi, Elena Frongillo, Antonella Miserendino, Ilaria Manini, Giacomo Lazzeri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1368
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author Bianca Maria Bocci
Dario Lipari
Andrea Pammolli
Rita Simi
Elena Frongillo
Antonella Miserendino
Ilaria Manini
Giacomo Lazzeri
author_facet Bianca Maria Bocci
Dario Lipari
Andrea Pammolli
Rita Simi
Elena Frongillo
Antonella Miserendino
Ilaria Manini
Giacomo Lazzeri
author_sort Bianca Maria Bocci
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-e46581982c38476fb508b762949667f42025-08-20T02:08:09ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-11-011111136810.3390/children11111368How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 SampleBianca Maria Bocci0Dario Lipari1Andrea Pammolli2Rita Simi3Elena Frongillo4Antonella Miserendino5Ilaria Manini6Giacomo Lazzeri7Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyPost Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyPost Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyPost Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyPost Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyPost Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyBackground/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.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1368eating habitsfamily structureadolescentsparental influencesurveyItalian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
spellingShingle Bianca Maria Bocci
Dario Lipari
Andrea Pammolli
Rita Simi
Elena Frongillo
Antonella Miserendino
Ilaria Manini
Giacomo Lazzeri
How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample
Children
eating habits
family structure
adolescents
parental influence
survey
Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
title How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample
title_full How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample
title_fullStr How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample
title_full_unstemmed How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample
title_short How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample
title_sort how family structure can influence adolescents eating habits an italian health behaviour in school aged children hbsc 2022 sample
topic eating habits
family structure
adolescents
parental influence
survey
Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1368
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