ERIC Number: EJ939606
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Oct
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-4316
EISSN: N/A
Family Meal Frequency and Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Adolescence: Testing Reciprocal Effects
White, James; Halliwell, Emma
Journal of Early Adolescence, v31 n5 p735-749 Oct 2011
This longitudinal study tested the direction of associations between family meals and alcohol and tobacco consumption during early adolescence. We examined family meal frequency, family connectedness, alcohol (binge drinking, drunkenness), and tobacco consumption (past year, daily frequency) in 671 adolescents (51% women; mean age, Wave 1 = 14.05 years). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to estimate the associations between meal frequency and increases in alcohol and tobacco consumption, and alcohol and tobacco consumption on increases in meal frequency over a year, while adjusting for family connectedness, social class, and age. Family meals were associated with reductions in alcohol and tobacco consumption in girls but not boys. Alcohol consumption was also associated with reductions in the frequency of meals among girls, but not boys. Results supported the assertion that family meals protect some girls from substance abuse but suggest meals may have little impact on existing users. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Social Class, Substance Abuse, Smoking, Structural Equation Models, Drinking, Early Adolescents, Longitudinal Studies, Correlation, Eating Habits, Family Environment, Family Relationship, Alcohol Abuse, Age Differences, Gender Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A