Family meals and adolescent emotional well-being: findings from a national study
This 2017 study evaluated the relationship between family meals (eating meals together as a family) and the mental health of adolescents in a large sample of students (total number of participants = 8500). Utter et al. also aimed to determine whether this association varies by sex of the students. This article used the data from a cross-sectional survey that measured mental health through the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale as well as the World Health Organization Well-being Index. Questionnaires completed by the students also revealed that around 60% of the adolescents shared family meals at least 5 times in the past week, while 22% of the sample population shared 2 meals or less in the previous week. More frequently eating family meals was related to fewer depression symptoms, fewer emotional difficulties, and better emotional well-being. Interestingly, the link between family meals and depression was stronger among females than among males. In conclusion, frequently having meals as a family may have a protective impact on the mental well-being of adolescents, and particularly with depression in women. [NPID: adolescents, family meals, mental health, depression, depressive symptoms, well-being, young people, students, family]
Year: 2017
