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Family meals and substance use: is there a long-term protective association?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Eisenberg, ME; Neumark-Sztainer, D; Fulkerson, JA; Story, M
Published in: J Adolesc Health
August 2008

PURPOSE: To examine 5-year longitudinal associations between family meal patterns and subsequent substance use in adolescents. METHODS: A total of 806 Minnesota adolescents were surveyed in public schools in 1998-1999 (mean age, 12.8 years) and again by mail in 2003-2004 (mean age, 17.2 years) as part of a longitudinal population-based study. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use at follow-up for adolescents reporting regular family meals at baseline compared with those without regular family meals, adjusting for family connectedness and prior substance use. RESULTS: Family meal frequency at baseline was associated with significantly lower odds of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and marijuana use at follow-up among female adolescents, even after adjusting for baseline substance use and additional covariates. Family meals were not associated with use of any substance at follow-up for male adolescents after adjusting for baseline use. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that regular family meals in adolescence may have a long-term protective association with the development of substance use over 5 years among females. Parents should be encouraged to establish a pattern of regular family meals, as this activity may have long lasting benefits.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

EISSN

1879-1972

Publication Date

August 2008

Volume

43

Issue

2

Start / End Page

151 / 156

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Public Health
  • Minnesota
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Family Relations
  • Child
  • Adolescent
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Eisenberg, M. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Fulkerson, J. A., & Story, M. (2008). Family meals and substance use: is there a long-term protective association? J Adolesc Health, 43(2), 151–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.01.019
Eisenberg, Marla E., Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Jayne A. Fulkerson, and Mary Story. “Family meals and substance use: is there a long-term protective association?J Adolesc Health 43, no. 2 (August 2008): 151–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.01.019.
Eisenberg ME, Neumark-Sztainer D, Fulkerson JA, Story M. Family meals and substance use: is there a long-term protective association? J Adolesc Health. 2008 Aug;43(2):151–6.
Eisenberg, Marla E., et al. “Family meals and substance use: is there a long-term protective association?J Adolesc Health, vol. 43, no. 2, Aug. 2008, pp. 151–56. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.01.019.
Eisenberg ME, Neumark-Sztainer D, Fulkerson JA, Story M. Family meals and substance use: is there a long-term protective association? J Adolesc Health. 2008 Aug;43(2):151–156.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

EISSN

1879-1972

Publication Date

August 2008

Volume

43

Issue

2

Start / End Page

151 / 156

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Public Health
  • Minnesota
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Family Relations
  • Child
  • Adolescent