Time 2 tlk 2nite: Use of Electronic Media by Adolescents during Family Meals and Associations with Demographic Characteristics, Family Characteristics, and Foods Served

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2013.10.015

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Volume 114, Issue 7, July 2014, Pages 1053-1058

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2013.10.015 Get rights and content

Abstract

We examined the frequency of adolescents' use of electronic media (ie, television/movie watching, text messaging, talking on the telephone, listening to music with headphones, and playing with hand-held games) at family meals and examined associations with demographic characteristics, rules about media use, family characteristics, and the types of foods served at meals using an observational, cross-sectional design. Data were drawn from two coordinated, population-based studies of adolescents (Project Eating Among Teens 2010) and their parents (Project Families and Eating Among Teens). Surveys were completed during 2009-2010. Frequent television/movie watching during family meals by youth was reported by 25.5% of parents. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated significantly higher odds of mealtime media use (P<0.05) for girls and older teens. In addition, higher odds of mealtime media use (P<0.05) were also seen among those whose parents had low education levels or were black or Asian; having parental rules about media use significantly reduced these odds. Frequent mealtime media use was significantly associated with lower scores on family communication (P<0.05) and scores indicating less importance placed on mealtimes (P<0.001). Furthermore, frequent mealtime media use was associated with lower odds of serving green salad, fruit, vegetables, 100% juice, and milk at meals, whereas higher odds were seen for serving sugar-sweetened beverages (P<0.05). The ubiquitous use of mealtime media by adolescents and differences by sex, race/ethnicity, age, and parental rules suggest that supporting parents in their efforts to initiate and follow-through on setting mealtime media use rules may be an important public health strategy.

Section snippets

Study Design and Participants

Data were drawn from two coordinated, population-based studies: Eating and Activity in Teens (EAT 2010) was a population-based study of 2,793 adolescents, and Families and Eating and Activity Among Teens (Project F-EAT) was a study of parents (n=3,709) of the adolescents in EAT 2010. Adolescents and parents completed surveys in 2009-2010.22, 23, 24 All parents of adolescents in Project EAT 2010 were invited to participate in Project F-EAT. Parents received a mailed invitation, survey, consent

Results and Discussion

The average parent age was 41.5±8.1 years. The majority of parents were women (91.7%) and diverse in education (51.1% completed high school or less, 27.1% completed some college, and 21.8% had a college/advanced degree) and work status (46.2% employed full time, 17.1% employed part time, and 36.7% not working). High percentages of parents reported low household incomes (38.2% reported annual household income of <$20,000, 38.5% reported $20,000 to $49,999, and 23.3% reported >$50,000) and

Conclusions

Our study extends our understanding of adolescent mealtime media use beyond television viewing to include hand-held games, talking and texting on cellular telephones, and listening to music with headphones, and suggests that adolescent mealtime media use is highly prevalent, particularly among girls, older adolescents, black youth, and youth with parents with low education. Given national recommendations and efforts to limit screen time among youth and promote family meals, these findings are

J. A. Fulkerson is an associate professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

References (40)

D. Neumark-Sztainer et al.
Family meal patterns: Associations with sociodemographic characteristics and improved dietary intake among adolescents
J Am Diet Assoc
(2003)
T.M. Videon et al.
Influences on adolescent eating patterns: The importance of family meals
J Adolesc Health
(2003)
N.I. Larson et al.
Family meals during adolescence are associated with higher diet quality and healthful meal patterns during young adulthood
J Am Diet Assoc
(2007)
J.A. Fulkerson et al.
Family dinner meal frequency and adolescent development: Relationships with developmental assets and high-risk behaviors
J Adolesc Health
(2006)
D. Neumark-Sztainer et al.
Are family meal patterns associated with disordered eating behaviors among adolescents?
J Adolesc Health
(2004)
W.A. McIntosh et al.
Mothers and meals: The effects of mothers' meal planning and shopping motivations on children's participation in family meals
Appetite
(2010)
J.M. Berge et al.
Family functioning: Associations with weight status, eating behaviors, and physical activity in adolescents
J Adolesc Health
(2013)
E.M. Welsh et al.
Examining the relationship between family meal frequency and individual dietary intake: Does family cohesion play a role?
J Nutr Educ Behav
(2011)
S. Feldman et al.
Associations between watching TV during family meals and dietary intake among adolescents
J Nutr Educ Behav
(2007)
S. Gable et al.
Nutrition socialization experiences of children in the Head Start program
J Am Diet Assoc
(2001)

E.R. Ramirez et al.

Adolescent screen time and rules to limit screen time in the home

J Adolesc Health

(2011)

J.M. Berge et al.

Family meals: Associations with weight and eating behaviors among mothers and fathers

Appetite

(2012)

L. Harnack et al.

Guess who's cooking? The role of men in meal planning, shopping, and preparation in US families

J Am Diet Assoc

(1998)

K.N. Boutelle et al.

Associations between maternal concern for healthful eating and maternal eating behaviors, home food availability, and adolescent eating behaviors

J Nutr Educ Behav

(2007)

J.M. Berge et al.

Structural and interpersonal characteristics of family meals: Associations with adolescent body mass index and dietary patterns

J Acad Nutr Diet

(2013)

J.A. Fulkerson et al.

Family meals: Perceptions of benefits and challenges among parents of 8- to 10-year-old children

J Am Diet Assoc

(2008)

J. Jabs et al.

Time scarcity and food choices: An overview

Appetite

(2006)

J. Jabs et al.

Trying to find the quickest way: Employed mothers' constructions of time for food

J Nutr Educ Behav

(2007)

M.W. Gillman et al.

Family dinner and diet quality among older children and adolescents

Arch Fam Med

(2000)

M.E. Eisenberg et al.

Correlations between family meals and psychosocial well-being among adolescents

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

(2004)

Cited by (51)

Longitudinal associations between family meal quality and quantity: Does one matter more for child, parent, and family health and well-being or are they synergistic?
2023, Appetite
It is unknown how family meal quantity (i.e., frequency) and quality (i.e., meal healthfulness and interpersonal quality) are associated with child, parent, and family health and well-being over time. This study aimed to examine longitudinal associations between family meal quantity and quality and child, parent, and family health and well-being and whether there was a synergistic effect between family meal quantity and quality. Children ages 5-9 and their parents from six racial/ethnic groups participated in this longitudinal cohort study. Regression models adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics examined family meal quantity, interpersonal quality, and nutritional quality at baseline and interactions between quantity and quality, in relation to changes in child, parent, and family health outcomes from baseline to 18-month follow-up. Higher family meal quantity predicted reduced obesity prevalence, improved diet quality and less food fussiness, food responsiveness, and conduct problems among children at follow-up. Higher family meal quality predicted improved diet quality, lower emotional problems, less food responsiveness, and fewer peer relationship problems among children, improved diet quality and reduced psychological distress for parents, and less family chaos at follow-up. One interaction between family meal quantity and quality was found for child peer relationship problems. Overall, family meal quantity and quality were independently important for child health and well-being and for some parent and family health outcomes. Clinicians working with families may want to emphasize the importance of both family meal quantity and quality, as these longitudinal findings suggest potential benefits for the entire family.
Children's media use and food approach behavior: Associations with temperament and food parenting
2023, Appetite
Children's media use has been found to be associated with obesogenic eating and obesity risk. Children's temperament and food parenting have been found to be important factors associated with children's eating behavior. The current study examined whether children's temperament and food parenting moderated the associations between children's media use and children's food approach behaviors. Parents (n = 214) of children between 3- to 5- years old were recruited to complete an online survey. Findings showed that children's temperament (i.e., negative affectivity and effortful control) and food parenting (i.e., coercive control) moderated the relationship between children's media use and children's food approach behavior. The results suggest that children's temperament and food parenting play important roles in understanding the relationship among children's media use and children's eating behavior.
Happy and healthy: How family mealtime routines relate to child nutritional health
2022, Appetite
Children eat most of their meals in a family context, making family meals a key environment in which to learn about healthy food. What makes a family meal “healthy”? This diary study examined the practice of seven family mealtime routines (e.g., positive mealtime atmosphere, parental modeling, and longer meal duration) and their predictive value for children's healthier nutrition focusing on everyday family meal settings.
Over 7 consecutive days, parents from N = 310 families (M_age = 42 years) described their most important family meal of the day and food intake for an index child (M_age = 9 years) and indicated what mealtime routines were practiced during the family meal. On average, each parent responded to 5.6 (SD = 1.4) of seven daily surveys. Mean correlations between mealtime routines were small (rs between −0.14 and 0.25), suggesting independent and distinct routines. Creating a positive atmosphere and turning TV and smartphones off were reported most often (on average, 91.2% and 90.5%, respectively). Parent's fruit and vegetable intake and creating a positive mealtime atmosphere were the strongest predictors for children's higher nutritional quality (i.e., higher vegetable and fruit intake; ps < .001). Findings indicate that mealtime routines obtained from independent meta-analyses represent distinct routines. Families practiced these independent and distinct routines to different degrees. Parental modeling and a positive mealtime atmosphere were most predictive of healthier child nutrition in daily family meal settings. More experimental research is needed to better understand causality and provide a better basis for effective interventions.
Are patterns of family evening meal practices associated with child and parent diet quality and weight-related outcomes?
2022, Appetite
Citation Excerpt :
This measure may reflect previous social norms that family meals occur at home with family members while consuming healthful foods prepared at home (Sobal & Hanson, 2014). However, societal changes such as increased maternal employment, availability of convenience foods that are energy dense with low nutrients, and availability of media devices may have changed family lifestyles, including how family meals are executed (Datar, Nicosia, & Shier, 2014; Fulkerson, Loth, et al., 2014; Nielsen, Siega-Riz, & Popkin, 2002). For example, eating convenience foods for family meals may be a new norm considering parents experience high work-life stress and spend less time cooking and eating together as a family (Bauer, Hearst, Escoto, Berge, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2012).
Family meal practices such as family member presence, fast food consumption and media usage have been associated with health outcomes. However, little is known about combinations of family meal practices and their effects on diet and health. This secondary data analysis aimed to identify patterns of family evening meal practices and examine their associations with family characteristics (e.g., demographics and chaos) and child and parent diet quality and weight-related outcomes. We used baseline data from a community-based randomized controlled trial with 7- to 10-year-old children and their parents in rural Minnesota (n = 114). Parent-reported structural (e.g. media usage) and interpersonal (e.g. mealtime routines) aspects of family evening meal practices were included in latent profile analyses to identify patterns. Diet quality was assessed by child Healthy Eating Index-2015 and parent fruit and vegetable intake. Weight-related outcomes were determined using measured body mass index (z-scores) and percent body fat. A 3-class model was the model of best-fit. The Unplanned Infrequent Family Evening Meals with Mixed Healthfulness class (C1) featured the least frequent family evening meals and the lowest scores for mealtime routines and planning skills. The Family Evening Meals with Fast Food class (C2) characterized having family evening meals four times a week, but fast food was often served. The Planful, Healthful and Frequent Family Evening Meals class (C3) reported the highest meal routine and planning scores as well as frequent family evening meals. Parents in C3 had higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and children in C3 had lower percent body fat, compared to those in other classes. Distinctly different patterns of family evening meal practices suggest a need for considering heterogeneity of family evening meal practices in developing tailored family-meal interventions.
Family meal characteristics in racially/ethnically diverse and immigrant/refugee households by household food security status: A mixed methods study
2021, Appetite
While there is some research examining frequency of family meals by food insecurity (FI) status, there is little research examining other family meal characteristics (e.g., type of food served at meal, emotional atmosphere) or parent feeding practices by FI status. If food and money is scarce, it may be that the broader family meal environment looks different in families with continuous access to food (food secure, FS) compared to families with FI. Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and qualitative data, this study explores meal characteristics and parent feeding practices at nearly 4000 family meals in a low-income, racially/ethnically diverse and immigrant/refugee sample. For 8 days, participants (i.e., parents of 5-7-year-old children) completed a survey every time they shared a meal with their child. Additionally, parents completed a qualitative interview regarding family meals. There were many meal characteristics statistically correlated with a family being FI, including: who prepared the meal and how the meal was prepared, the makeup of people at the meal, the meal location and meal atmosphere, and the food served at the meal. Qualitative data illuminated many of these findings from EMA meal surveys. Quantitatively, families with FI and FS reported similar parent feeding practices during family meals. Qualitatively, families with FI and FS reported differences in (1) parent feeding practices; (2) food served at family meals; (3) challenges to having family meals; and 4) adults' role in the family meal. This study provides suggestions for interventionists working with families, including helping families identify time management strategies, including fruits and vegetables into family meals on a budget, reducing screen time at family meals while improving the meal's emotional atmosphere, and developing positive parent feeding practice strategies.
Examining Predictors of Watching Television During Family Meals in a Diverse Sample
2019, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Citation Excerpt :
Cross-sectional research1–3 found that a quarter to one third of family meals are eaten while watching TV.
To identify predictors associated with television (TV) watching during family meals.
Parents of racially and ethnically diverse 5- to 7-year-old children (n = 150) completed 8 days of ecological momentary assessment surveys. After each meal they shared with their child, parents answered meal-related questions (eg, who was present). Adjusted generalized estimating equations were used to estimate probabilities of watching TV during family meals for individual predictors.
Number of adults present, location, outside influences (eg, planned meal, stress), and time to prepare the meal were independently predictive of TV watching during the meal (P < .001).
Results of the current study suggest that families may need assistance in addressing predictors (eg, stress) associated with watching TV during family meals, given prior research has shown watching TV during family meals is associated with negative dietary outcomes. Future research might investigate other factors that may also influence watching TV at family meals.

View all citing articles on Scopus

J. A. Fulkerson is an associate professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

J. Berge is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

M. E. Eisenberg is an associate professor, Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

D. Neumark-Sztainer is a professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

K. Loth is a post-doctoral fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; at the time of the study, she was a doctoral degree candidate and graduate research assistant, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

M. Bruening is an assistant professor, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Phoenix.

: STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

: FUNDING/SUPPORT This project was supported by award no. R01HL093247 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

View full text

ResearchResearch and Professional BriefsTime 2 tlk 2nite: Use of Electronic Media by Adolescents during Family Meals and Associations with Demographic Characteristics, Family Characteristics, and Foods Served

Abstract

Section snippets

Study Design and Participants

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

J Am Diet Assoc

J Adolesc Health

J Am Diet Assoc

J Adolesc Health

J Adolesc Health

Appetite

J Adolesc Health

J Nutr Educ Behav

J Nutr Educ Behav

J Am Diet Assoc

J Adolesc Health

Appetite

J Am Diet Assoc

J Nutr Educ Behav

J Acad Nutr Diet

J Am Diet Assoc

Appetite

J Nutr Educ Behav

Family dinner and diet quality among older children and adolescents

Arch Fam Med

Correlations between family meals and psychosocial well-being among adolescents

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

Research
Research and Professional Briefs
Time 2 tlk 2nite: Use of Electronic Media by Adolescents during Family Meals and Associations with Demographic Characteristics, Family Characteristics, and Foods Served