Family affluence and cultural capital as indicators of social inequalities in adolescent’s eating behaviours: a population-based survey

Abstract

BackgroundDietary inequality, via socio-economic inequality, may involve several mechanisms. Different aspects of adolescents’ socio-economic circumstances should therefore be considered in order to make effective interventions to promote healthy eating in the young population. Indicators designed to tap socio-economic status among adolescents in particular will facilitate a better understanding of the concept of socio-economic status and how it influences health behaviour among young people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if material capital and cultural capital individually and independently contribute to the prediction of eating habits in the Norwegian adolescent population.MethodsThe analysis is based on survey data from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. The Family Affluence Scale (number of cars, holidays, PC and bedrooms) and number of books in the household were used as indicators of socio-economic status, respectively measuring material capital and cultural capital. Their influence on adolescent’s consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweets, soft drinks, and consumption of breakfast and dinner was evaluated. Pearson’s correlation, logistic regression and ridit transformation analysis were used to analyse the data.ResultsHigher family affluence was shown to predict consumption of more fruit (OR 1.52) and vegetables (OR 1.39) and consumption of breakfast (OR 1.61) and dinner (1.35). Cultural capital was significantly associated to consumption of fruit (OR 1.85), vegetables (OR 2.38) sweets (OR .45), sugary soft drinks (OR .26), breakfast (OR 2.13) and dinner (OR 1.54). Cultural capital was the strongest predictor to healthy eating among adolescents in Norway.ConclusionsMaterial capital and cultural capital individually and independently contributed to the prediction of healthy eating patterns among adolescents in Norway. Cultural capital is an understudied dimension of the socio-economic status concept and the influence on health behaviour needs to be explored in future studies. Initiatives to promote healthy eating should focus on education, habits and consciousness of a healthy diet, but also at reducing the high cost of fruit and vegetables. There is further a need for developing appropriate indicators for adolescent socio-economic status.

High School Students Residing in Educational Public Institutions: Health-Risk Behaviors

“…Of note, adolescents in countries with higher socioeconomic differences (e.g., developing countries) are reported to have worse health conditions [38], an earlier onset of smoking [1] and alcohol and drug abuse, more risky sexual behavior [38], and inappropriate eating behaviors [6]. …”

The influence of a school-based intervention programme regarding adherence to a healthy diet in children and adolescents from disadvantaged areas in Greece: the DIATROFI study

“…These inequalities interact with lifestyle factors, including dietary habits11 12 and physical activity,12 13 affecting body weight and obesity status 14. Furthermore, food insecurity, as a result of SES inequalities influences children's health and growth, while it is directly associated with obesity and inadequate nutrition quality 15 16.…”

Family Affluence and the Eating Habits of 11- to 15-Year-Old Czech Adolescents: HBSC 2002 and 2014

“…Several studies demonstrated that SES plays one of the key roles in the development of healthy eating habits in children [1,17], which tend to be carried into adulthood [18,19,20]. Significant associations have been documented between parental SES and the consumption of breakfast [7,9,21,22], a morning snack [9], dinner [21], fruit and vegetables [7,21,23,24,25] and dairy products (low and full-fat milk/yoghurt, chocolate milk, low and full-fat cheese and feta cheese) [7,25] in children and adolescents. Sweet beverages, processed and energy-dense foods have been inversely associated with family SES [1,6].…”