Adolescents' Mental Health Can Benefit from Nutritious Family Dinners According to Institute of Health and Social Policy

According to a study from the Institute for Health and Social Policy, the contribution of regular family suppers supports good mental health in adolescents. Family meal times are a measurable signature of social exchanges in the home that benefit adolescents' well-being, regardless of whether or not they feel they can easily talk to their parents.

"More frequent family dinners related to fewer emotional and behavioural problems, greater emotional well-being, more trusting and helpful behaviours towards others and higher life satisfaction," said Professor Frank Elgar, an associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry, whose research centers on social inequalities in health and family influences on child mental health.

The study, conducted by Elgar, Wendy Craig and Stephen Trites of Queen's University, examined the relation between frequency of family dinners and positive and negative aspects of mental health. The researchers used a national sample of 26,069 adolescents aged 11 to 15 years who participated in the 2010 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. The researchers found the same positive effects of family meal time on the mental health of the young subjects, regardless of gender, age or family affluence.

"We were surprised to find such consistent effects on every outcome we studied," said Elgar. "From having no dinners together to eating together 7 nights a week, each additional dinner related to significantly better mental health."

Adolescents submitted data on the weekly frequency of family dinners during the study to the ease of parent-adolescent communication and five dimensions of mental health, including internalizing and externalizing problems, emotional well-being, more helpful behaviors and life satisfaction.

The results of the study suggests that family mealtimes are opportunities for open family interactions which present teaching opportunities for parents to shape coping and positive health behaviors such as good nutritional choices, as well as enable adolescents to express concerns and feel valued, all elements that are conducive to good mental health in adolescents.