Recent studies have identified the negative effects of childhood economic deprivation on economic status in adulthood. However, to our knowledge, the effects of childhood economic conditions and mealtime environment on food consciousness in adulthood are not discussed in detail. Therefore, this study aimed to quantitatively clarify the effects of household economic conditions and mealtime environment during childhood on food consciousness in adulthood. It used individual data from a nationwide online survey conducted in January 2022. Among 2,000 samples, the study used the 1,981 that responded to all the questions required for data analysis. The results of categorical structural equation modelling revealed the following: 1) economic conditions, mealtime environment, and shock experience in childhood affected food consciousness in adulthood. These childhood influences were less significant than those of socioeconomic status in adulthood, but greater than those of gender and household characteristics (i.e., single-person households). 2) The degree of the effects of childhood economic conditions and mealtime environment on food attitudes in adulthood were similarly significant. Therefore, it is suggested that not only the alleviation of economic deprivation but also the improvement of the mealtime environment at home in childhood may contribute to the improvement of food consciousness in adulthood.
