Background: The family is the main environment where children are socialized and learn individual behavior. Although previous studies have examined predictors of preadolescent first alcohol use, few studies have analyzed factors associated with alcohol use in children in a country with low alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the initiation of alcohol use by sixth graders and determine family factors associated with first alcohol use.

Objective: To investigate the reciprocal relationship between unhealthy eating behaviours and depressive symptoms from childhood to adolescence. Design: Unhealthy eating behaviours were measured by the frequencies of eating foods with excess salt, sugar or fat in the past week. Depressive symptoms in the past two weeks were measured using a seven-item scale. Hierarchical linear growth models were used to analyse longitudinal associations between unhealthy eating behaviours and depressive symptoms. Time-fixed variables (sex, parents' education level and household monthly income) and time-varying variables (parents' marital status, family activities, body weight, vegetable or fruit consumption, exercising and smoking) were controlled for. Setting: The Child and Adolescent Behaviors in Long-Term Evolution study, which commenced in 2001 and has annual follow-up. Subjects: Students (n 2630) followed from 2nd grade (8 years old in 2002) to 11th grade. Results: The frequency of unhealthy eating behaviours in the previous year and the difference between the frequency in the previous and successive year were positively associated with the initiation and growth rate of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms in the previous year and the difference in depressive symptoms between the previous and successive year were positively associated with the initial state and growth rate of unhealthy eating behaviours. Conclusions: Our results suggest a reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and unhealthy eating behaviours. This relationship should be considered when developing programmes targeting depressive symptoms and unhealthy diet in children and adolescents. Keywords Depressive symptoms Unhealthy eating behavioursChildhood and adolescence Longitudinal analysis Reciprocal relationshipDepressive disorders are a leading cause of disability-adjusted life years that occur throughout the world (1) . Depressive disorders commence in childhood. A meta-analysis of predominantly Western studies found a prevalence of major depressive disorder of 2·8 % in those aged less than 13 years and of 5·6 % in those aged 13-18 years (2) . A Taiwanese study reported a prevalence of 12·3 % in adolescents aged 13-18 years, demonstrating the importance of this issue in Taiwan (3) .Diet is one of the many factors associated with depression (4) and the dietary habits of children and

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Decreasing the availability of alcohol, developing appropriate alcohol expectancies, and increasing alcohol refusal skills may help decrease the development of high-risk drinking behavior in adolescents. Our study furthers the understanding of underage alcohol use in societies with low alcohol consumption.