Research ArticleResearch

Systematic review of the effects of family meal frequency on psychosocial outcomes in youth

Megan E. Harrison, Mark L. Norris, Nicole Obeid, Maeghan Fu, Hannah Weinstangel and Margaret Sampson
Canadian Family Physician February 2015; 61 (2) e96-e106;

Article Figures & Data

Figures

Tables

  • Table 1

    Design and characteristics of studies reviewed

    STUDYN VALUEDATA SOURCE AND SETTINGPARTICIPANT CHARACTERISTICSSTUDY DESIGNOUTCOMES MEASUREDDEFINITION OFFFMPSYCHOSOCIAL MEASURES
    Franko et al,15 20082379Girls from California, Cincinnati, and Maryland aged 9 or 10 y at study entry who participated in the NGHSGirls only
    Mean age at the start of the study was 9.5 y
    Mean age at 10 y was 18.6 y    		Longitudinal data collected annually for 10 y as part of the NGHS
    Measures administered in alternating years
    Participant retention at 10 y was 89%
    Family meals data were obtained at 1 y and 3 y and the main outcome measures were obtained at 5 y, 6 y, and 10 y    		Disordered eating behaviour, body image concern, and substance use“How often do you eat with your parent(s)?”
    FFM not defined    		EDI—the drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and bulimia subscales
    Perceived Stress Scale
    Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III— the cohesion subscale
    Coping Strategies Inventory
    Various questions to assess FMF and demographic characteristics
    White and Halliwell,16 2010550Students (aged 11–16 y) in grades 7, 9, and 10 from comprehensive state schools based in an urban area of the UKEthnically and socioeconomically diverse
    Males (n = 274), females (n = 276)
    Mean (SD) age was 14.13 (1.09) y    		Cross-sectional data collected
    Sex, date of birth, height, weight, and parental employment were self-reported by participants
    Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess FMF, family connectedness, family mealtime environment, and alcohol and tobacco consumption    		Substance use“During the past seven days, how many times did all, or most, of your family living in your house eat a meal together?”
    FFM defined as ≥ 5 times per wk    		Family Eating Attitudes and Behavior Scale
    Various questions to assess demographic characteristics, FMF, familial factors, and alcohol and tobacco consumption
    Fulkerson et al,18 200699 462Students in grades 6–12 from public and alternative schools in the US (213 cities, 25 states)Ethnically diverse
    Males (n = 49 138), females (n = 49 620)    		Cross-sectional data collected during the 1996–1997 school year
    Profiles of student life;
    Attitudes and Behaviors survey administered in classrooms by participating school districts    		Disordered eating behaviour, depressive symptoms or suicidality, self- esteem, academic achievement, substance use, and violent behaviour7 times per wkProfiles of student life; Attitudes and Behaviors survey
    Various questions chosen to assess substance use, depressive symptoms, suicidality, violence, academic problems, FMF, and demographic variables
    Neumark-Sztainer et al,19 20044746Adolescents from the urban and suburban school districts of Minneapolis who participated in Project EATEthnically diverse
    Males and females
    Mean (SD) age was 14.9 (1.7) y    		Cross-sectional data collected during the 1998–1999 school year
    Project EAT survey administered by staff (RR 81.5%); height and weight assessed    		Disordered eating behaviour“During the past 7 days, how many times did all, or most, of your family living in your house eat a meal together?”
    FFM defined as ≥ 5 meals per wk    		Specific questions developed for the Project EAT study were based on adolescent focus group findings, a review of existing instruments, expert revisions, a social-cognitive theoretical framework, and pilot tests
    Fisher et al,30 20075511Cohort of children who participated in GUTS across the US
    GUTS participants are the children of women taking part in the Nurses’ Health Study II    		Males (n = 2228), females (n = 3283)
    Age range was 11–18 y    		Longitudinal data collected in 1996 and in 1998 and 1999, examining predictors of alcohol initiation and binge drinking
    Starting in 1996, GUTS follow-up self-report questionnaires were mailed to participants annually
    In 1998 and 1999, the alcohol use section of the questionnaire was expanded and administered to participants (RR 70%)    		Substance use“How often do you sit down with other members of your family to eat dinner or supper?”
    FFM not defined    		Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire— adolescent version
    Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children
    Various questions to assess demographic, family, and social context variables, and alcohol use behaviour
    Haines et al,32 201013 448Cohort of children who participated in GUTS across the US
    Participants in GUTS are the children of women taking part in the Nurses’ Health Study II    		Males (n = 5913), females (n = 7535)
    Mean (SD) age (Time 1) was 11.9 (1.6) y    		Longitudinal data collected in 1996, (Time 1, baseline), 1997 (Time 2), 1998 (Time 3), and 1999 (Time 4)
    Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to participants annually    		Disordered eating behaviour“How often do you sit down with other members of your family to eat dinner or supper?”
    FFM not defined    		Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance Questionnaire
    McKnight Risk Factor Survey
    Various questions to assess variables such as FMF, parental weight teasing, and importance of thinness to parents
    Fulkerson et al,33 2009145At-risk adolescents from urban and suburban alternative high schools in Minneapolis who participated in the COOL pilot studyEthnically diverse
    Males (52%), females (61%)
    Mean (SD) age was 17.2 (1.2) y    		Cross-sectional data collected in 2006 as baseline data for the Team COOL pilot study
    Trained research staff administered a psychosocial survey to students during class; height and weight measurements were also recorded    		Disordered eating behaviour, depressive symptoms, and substance use“During the past week, how many days did all, or most, of the people you live with eat dinner together?”
    FFM defined as 5–7 meals per wk    		Specific questions came from previously published surveys
    Sen,34 20108984Youth (aged 12–16 y) who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of YouthNationally representative sample of the US population
    Youth aged ≤ 14 y as of December 31, 1996, who were living with at least 1 parent
    Sex numbers not specified    		Longitudinal data collected from 1997 to 2000Substance use and violent behaviourYouth were asked to report the number of days in a typical week their family ate dinner together
    FFM not defined    		Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview
    Woodruff and Hanning,35 20093223*Students in grades 6–8 from 86 schools across northern and southern Ontario and Nova ScotiaMales (n = 1454), females (n = 1548)Cross-sectional data collected during the 2005–2006 school year
    Web-based Food Behaviour Questionnaire was administered (RR varied by region or city and ranged from 34%–98%)    		Disordered eating behaviour, body image concern, and self-efficacy“Typically, how many days per week do you eat dinner or supper with at least one parent?”
    FFM defined as ≥ 6 d per wk    		Food Behaviour Questionnaire
    Various questions to assess FMF, body image concern, and self-efficacy
    Eisenberg et al,36 20044746Adolescents from the urban and suburban school districts of Minneapolis who participated in Project EATEthnically diverse
    Males and females
    Mean (SD) age was 14.9 (1.7) y    		Cross-sectional data collected during the 1998–1999 school year
    Project EAT survey administered by staff during class (RR 81.5%); height and weight assessed    		Self-esteem, academic achievement, depressive symptoms or suicidality, and substance use“During the past 7 days, how many times did all, or most, of your family living in your house eat a meal together?”
    FFM defined as ≥ 5 meals per wk    		Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
    Various questions to assess FMF, family factors, academic performance, depression, suicidality, and sociodemographic factors
    Sierra-Baigrie et al,37 2009259Secondary school students aged 12 to 21 y from Avilés, a town in northern SpainMales (58.3%), females (41.7%)
    Mean age was 14.72 y    		Cross-sectional data were collected in the form of various self-reported questionnaires assessing topics including bulimic symptomatology, psychosocial competencies, emotional and behavioural problems, and family meal patterns
    Researchers administered the questionnaires within classrooms to students in groups of 25–30    		Disordered eating behaviour“With what frequency do you eat the midday meal at the table with the family members who are at home?”
    “With what frequency do you eat the evening meal at the table with the family members who are at home?”
    FFM not defined    		Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh
    Youth self-report
    Various questions to assess FMF and binge-eating episodes
    Neumark-Sztainer et al,38 20082516Adolescents from urban and suburban school districts in Minneapolis who participated in Project EAT-I and Project EAT-IIEthnically and socioeconomically diverse
    Males (n = 1130), females (n = 1386)
    Mean (SD) age of middle school participants: Time 1 was 12.8 (0.8) y; Time 2 was 17.2 (0.6) y
    Mean (SD) age of high school participants: Time 1 was 15.8 (0.8) y; and Time 2 was 20.4 (0.8) y    		Longitudinal data collected during the 1998–1999 school year (Time 1) and again in 2003–2004 (Time 2)
    Time 1: Project EAT-I survey administered by staff (RR 81.5%)
    Time 2: Project EAT-II survey distributed via mail and self-administered (RR 68.4%)    		Disordered eating behaviour“During the past 7 days, how many times did all or most of your family living in your house eat a meal together?”
    FFM defined as ≥ 5 meals wk    		Specific questions developed for the Project EAT study were based on adolescent focus group findings, a review of existing instruments, expert revisions, a social-cognitive theoretical framework, and pilot tests
    Neumark- Sztainer et al,39 20072516†Adolescents from urban and suburban school districts in Minneapolis who participated in Project EAT-I and Project EAT-IIEthnically and socioeconomically diverse
    Males (n = 1130), females (n = 1386)
    Mean (SD) age of middle school participants: Time 1 was 12.8 (0.8) y; Time 2 was 17.2 (0.6) y
    Mean (SD) age of high school participants: Time 1 was 15.8 (0.8) y; Time 2 was 20.4 (0.8) y    		Longitudinal data collected during the 1998–1999 school year (Time 1) and again in 2003–2004 (Time 2)
    Time 1: Project EAT-I survey administered by staff (RR 81.5%)
    Time 2: Project EAT-II survey distributed via mail and self-administered (RR 68.4%)    		Disordered eating behaviour“During the past 7 days, how many times did all, or most, of your family living in your house eat a meal together?”
    FFM defined as ≥ 5 meals per wk    		Specific questions developed for the Project EAT study were based on adolescent focus group findings, a review of existing instruments, expert revisions, a social-cognitive theoretical framework, and pilot tests
    Eisenberg et al,40 2008806Adolescents from middle schools (grades 7–8) in Minnesota who participated in Project EAT-I and then in Project EAT-IIEthnically and socioeconomically diverse
    Males (n = 366), females (n = 440)
    Mean (SD) age at Time 1 was 12.8 (0.8) y; at Time 2 was 17.2 (0.6) y    		Longitudinal data collected during the 1998–1999 school year (Time 1) and again in 2003–2004 (Time 2)
    Time 1: Project EAT-I survey administered by staff
    Time 2: Project EAT-II survey distributed via mail and self-administered (RR 69.5%)    		Substance use“During the past 7 days, how many times did all, or most, of your family living in your house eat a meal together?”
    FFM defined as ≥ 5 meals wk    		Specific questions developed for the Project EAT study were based on adolescent focus group findings, a review of existing instruments, expert revisions, a social-cognitive theoretical framework, and pilot tests

    • COOL—Controlling Overweight and Obesity for Life, EDI—Eating Disorders Inventory, FFM—frequent family meals, FMF—family meal frequency, GUTS—Growing Up Today Study, NGHS—National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, Project EAT—Project Eating Among Teens, RR—response rate, UK—United Kingdom, US—United States.

    • ↵* Results based on a sample size of N = 3025 owing to participant exclusions.

    • ↵† Results are based on a subset of patients who were overweight or who participated in binge eating or extreme weight-control behaviour, which consisted of 577 females and 312 males (total N = 889).

  • Table 2

    Main findings of studies reviewed: A) Studies in which results differed between sexes; B) Studies in which sex was not specified.

    A)
    STUDY IN WHICH RESULTS DIFFERED BETWEEN SEXES    		OUTCOMES MEASUREDMAIN FINDINGS
    FEMALESMALES
    Franko et al,15 2008Disordered eating behaviour, body image concern, and substance useThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and bulimia symptoms, body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and cigarette smoking
    FMF was not significantly associated with extreme weight-control behaviour nor with alcohol consumption    		NA
    Neumark-Sztainer et al,19 2004Disordered eating behaviourThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour and chronic dieting
    FMF was not significantly associated with binge eating    		There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour (this relationship with less extreme weight-control behaviour was only present after adjusting for BMI and sociodemographic factors)
    FMF was not significantly associated with binge eating nor with chronic dieting
    Fisher et al,30 2007Substance useThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and alcohol initiation (ie, girls who ate a family meal every day were 50% less likely to initiate alcohol use than those who ate a family meal some days or never)FMF was not significantly associated with alcohol initiation
    Haines et al,32 2010Disordered eating behaviourThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and purging, binge eating, and chronic dietingThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and binge eating and FMF and chronic dieting
    FMF was not significantly associated with purging
    Sen,34 2010Substance use and violent behaviourThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and smoking, marijuana use, alcohol use, and physical violenceThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and smoking, marijuana use, alcohol use, and physical violence
    Neumark-Sztainer et al,38 2008Disordered eating behaviourThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour, binge eating, and chronic dietingFMF was not significantly associated with extreme weight-control behaviour, binge eating, or chronic dieting
    FMF was statistically significantly associated with an increased likelihood of less extreme weight-control behaviour (ie, skipping meals and eating very little food)
    Eisenberg et al,36 2004Self-esteem, academic achievement, depressive symptoms or suicidality, and substance useThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and low self-esteem, a low grade point average, high depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, cigarette use, marijuana use, and alcohol useThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and a low grade point average, high depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, cigarette use, marijuana use, and alcohol use
    FMF was not significantly associated with low self-esteem
    Neumark-Sztainer et al,39 2007Disordered eating behaviourFMF was statistically significantly associated with extreme weight-control behaviour and binge eatingFMF was not significantly associated with extreme weight- control behaviour nor with binge eating
    Eisenberg et al,40 2008Substance useThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol useFMF was not significantly associated with cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol use
    B)
    STUDY IN WHICH SEX WAS NOT SPECIFIED    		OUTCOMES MEASUREDMAIN FINDINGS
    White and Halliwell,16 2010Substance useThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and tobacco smoking and alcohol use
    Fulkerson et al,18 2006Disordered eating behaviour, depressive symptoms or suicidality, self-esteem, academic achievement, substance use, and violent behaviourThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and purging, binge eating, depression or suicide risk, alcohol use, drug use, tobacco use, and violent behaviour
    FMF was statistically significantly positively associated with increased self-esteem and increased commitment to learning
    Woodruff and Hanning,35 2009Disordered eating behaviour, body image concern, and self-efficacyNo association was found between FMF and dieting
    There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and skipping meals (specifically breakfast) and with concern about high body weight
    FMF was statistically significantly positively associated with increased self-efficacy for healthy eating both at home with family and at social events with friends
    Fulkerson et al,33 2009Disordered eating behaviour, depressive symptoms, and substance useThere was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and skipping a meal (specifically breakfast) and depressive symptoms
    FMF was not significantly associated with extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour, nor with cigarette, marijuana, alcohol, or illicit drug use
    Sierra-Baigrie et al,37 2008Disordered eating behaviourFMF was not significantly associated with binge eating

    • BMI—body mass index, FMF—family meal frequency, NA—not applicable.

Back to top

In this issue

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Email Article
Citation Tools
Respond to this article
Systematic review of the effects of family meal frequency on psychosocial outcomes in youth
Megan E. Harrison, Mark L. Norris, Nicole Obeid, Maeghan Fu, Hannah Weinstangel, Margaret Sampson
Canadian Family Physician Feb 2015, 61 (2) e96-e106;
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo

Jump to section