A Parental Health Education Model of Children’s Food Consumption: Influence on Children’s Attitudes, Intention, and Consumption of Healthy and Unhealthy Foods

Abstract

This study proposes that parental mediation of television advertising and parental guidance of food consumption differentially influence children’s attitude, intention, and behavior toward the consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods. Structural equation modeling based on a survey of 1,119 children aged 9–12 supported our model, revealing that parental education strategies influence children’s food consumption in a complex manner that is highly context-dependent. Parental guidance of food consumption enhanced children’s healthy food attitude and intention to consume, while reducing the intention to consume unhealthy food. However, parental mediation of television advertising influenced unhealthy food attitude to a greater extent than healthy food attitude. Implications for health promotion and education, as well as parents and policy makers are discussed.

Funding

This study was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under its Health Services Research Competitive Research Grant (HSRG/0046/2013).

Notes

¹ Nutrition researchers might approach food consumption from a more holistic manner, avoiding the healthy/unhealthy food dichotomy. However, this study utilizes the unhealthy/healthy dichotomy for the sake of utility in health promotion. This is based on a steady stream of literature in health promotion and education that focuses on promoting a healthier diet among people. The dichotomy is often based on the relative nutrient density of the foods in question. Foods high in calories and low in nutrients, such as snacks, chips, and fast food options, are generally classified as unhealthy, while foods that are relatively higher in fiber, vitamins, and protein are classified as healthy (e.g., Dixon, Scully, Wakefield, White, & Crawford, 2007; Hartmann, Siegrist, & van der Horst, 2013).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under its Health Services Research Competitive Research Grant (HSRG/0046/2013).