Abstract
Background & Objective: A poor diet can contribute to a range of illnesses, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension among school-age children in Japan. Therefore, the Ministry of Education established the Basic Act for Food Education, which proposed a way of improving the diet of children. Schools are now required to provide health education about a healthy diet for students. However, the formation of children's eating habits is influenced by socio-environmental and psychological factors, such as their family. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between school-age children's eating behavior and family factors to develop a more comprehensive approach for school health.
Methods: The conceptual framework of this study was based on the PRECEDE and PROCEED models. Independent variables were set, with family environment as a reinforcing factor, family self-esteem as a predisposing factor, and the dependent variable of eating behavior measurement. The study was conducted among 295 sixth-grade students and 192 fifth-grade students, namely, a total of 487 students in an elementary school in a city near Tsu, Mie, Japan, in 2010. The use of self-administered questionnaires was approved by Mie University IRB. Statistical analysis was performed using paired T-test, chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA.
Results: Father's presence was significantly related to eating behavior score (t=2.289) in the family environment. High family self-esteem of children was significantly related to higher eating behavior score (t=8.310).
Conclusions: It is clear that family factors are associated with self-management capacity in schoolchildren. In particular, the presence of the father and high family self-esteem were important sociological and physiological factors for improving children's eating behavior.
