Date of Publication
2023
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Benjamin Kalinkowitz
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the association between the frequency of family mealtimes and academic and behavioral outcomes in school aged children (3-17 years old) in the US.
Methods: Responses from the 2020 National Survey of Children’s Health (n=42,777) were utilized to determine exposures of family meals and age-appropriate academic and behavioral outcomes. Chi-square tests were used to determine the existence of association and binomial logistical regression used to determine the magnitude of the association.
Results: In initial analysis, age groups (3-5 and 6–17-year-olds) showed a statistically significant relationship between family mealtime frequency and outcomes (P<0.001 and P<0.001). Children aged 3-5 who experienced more frequent family meals were significantly more likely to have optimal outcomes when controlling for confounders (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.04). Those 6-17-year-olds who experienced more frequent family meals were less likely to have ideal academic/behavioral outcomes when controlling for confounders (OR= 0.99, 95% CI = 0.99, 1.00).
Conclusion: Children aged 3-5 were more likely to show positive academic and behavioral outcomes with increased frequency of family mealtimes. Results for children aged 6-17 years were inconclusive.
Document Type
Project
Recommended Citation
Vieira de Moraes LaCasse, Katia C.; Kalb, Heidi; Kim, Anna; Leonard, Sara; and Raftery, Haley, "Family mealtime frequency and children’s academic and behavioral outcomes" (2023). Master of Public Health Culminating Projects. 41.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/mphcp/41