Objective: Investigate associations between perceived parental/peer support for a healthy diet and adolescent dietary behaviors using data from the 2009-2011 School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey.
Design: A secondary analysis of SPAN, a cross-sectional statewide study using a validated self-administered questionnaire, assessed obesity-related behaviors.
Setting: Probability-based sample of Texas 8th- and 11th-grade students.
Participants: A total of 6,716 8th- and 11th-grade students.
Main outcome measures: Obtained by self-report and included sugary beverage consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, and SPAN healthy eating score.
Analysis: Multiple logistic regression and linear regression were used to determine associations, controlling for demographic variables.
Results: For every 1-point increase in parental support (range, 0-12), adolescents had 1.19 times higher odds of consuming ≥1 fruits or vegetables/d (P < .001) and 1.1 times lower odds of consuming ≥2 sugary beverages/d (P < .05), and had a SPAN healthy eating score (range, -100 to 100) that was 1.6 points higher (P < .001). For every 1-point increase in peer support, adolescents had 1.14 times higher odds of consuming ≥1 fruits and vegetables/d (P < .001) and a higher SPAN healthy eating score (P < .05).
Conclusions and implications: Parental/peer support was associated with healthier dietary behaviors. Future research could conduct pre-post intervention studies to determine whether an increase in parental/peer support is associated with positive changes in healthier eating.
Keywords: adolescents; dietary behaviors; parents; peers; perceived social support.
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