Dutch Preadolescents’ Food Consumption at School: Influence of Autonomy, Competence and Parenting Practices

Abstract

Eating habits appear to become less healthy once children move into adolescence. Adolescence is characterized by increasing independence and autonomy. Still, parents continue influencing adolescents’ eating habits. This cross-sectional study used a Self-Determination Theory perspective to examine how parents can support preadolescents’ food-related autonomy and competence and how these factors are associated with healthy eating motivation and food consumption at school. In addition, the effect of relative healthy food availability at home on preadolescents’ food consumption at school was explored. In total, 142 Dutch preadolescents (mean age 12.18) and 81 parents completed questionnaires. The results showed that preadolescents perceived themselves as having higher food-related autonomy and lower competence to eat healthily as compared to their parents’ perceptions. A path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized model. Although parental support was positively associated with food-related autonomy, higher food-related autonomy was related to less healthy food intake at school. On the other hand, competence to eat healthily indirectly affected preadolescents’ healthy intake ratio through their healthy eating motivation. Finally, the relative availability of healthy options at home was positively associated with preadolescents’ healthy intake ratio outside the home. Findings from the study advance the understanding of individual and environmental factors that influence eating habits during the key life period of early adolescence. The results may inform interventions aiming to guide preadolescents to make healthy food choices on their own.

Adherence to dietary guidelines and dental caries among children: a longitudinal cohort study

“…Furthermore, in the long time period between the assessment of diet quality at the age of 8 years and dental caries assessment at the age of 13 years, dietary patterns might be changed and be more influenced by the young adolescent itself. 35 , 36 However, DMFT is a cumulative measure indicating caries activity from permanent dentition onwards and includes both treated and untreated caries in the permanent teeth. Moreover, in our study, the diet quality score was assessed by means of an FFQ.…”

Exploring Australian children’s perceptions of a school-provided lunch model using a story completion method

“…The overarching theme around choice in the present study is not surprising given that children seek autonomy over their choices as they grow and develop their independence ( Bagattini and Macleod, 2015 ). Preadolescence is a time when children rapidly gain exposure to a world outside of their family home and may seek more autonomy over food choices to fit in with their peers ( van Nee et al , 2021 ; Neufeld et al , 2022 ). As is evident from the literature and the present study it is vital to provide children with variety and choice in line with their preferences when designing a school-provided lunch model.…”

Development of food literacy in children and adolescents: implications for the design of strategies to promote healthier and more sustainable diets

“…From a young age, parents have a crucial impact on how children learn about food, as they shape the so-called home food environment. 76 , 77 This includes the food available at home and its accessibility, family food rules, parents’ eating habits, their knowledge about food, and their feeding styles and practices. What, where, when, how much, and in which emotional and social context parents present foods to the child can have an immediate impact on children (eg, on their willingness to try certain foods), but also a longer-term impact in childhood and adulthood.…”